Ray French: Rugby league legend and BBC commentator dies aged 85 - BBC Sport

Ray French: Rugby league legend and BBC commentator dies aged 85 - BBC Sport

Sad day. Big part of rugby league history.

Like a breath of fresh air when he took over the mantle of BBC rugby league commentator following the buffoonery of "Uncle" Eddie Waring. RIP Ray

Eddie wasn't a buffoon. They just kept him in the role too long and he got old.
He was a game changer when he started.
You've got to remember in Eddie's days there was no support with side kick or producers. He did it all on his own.


Ray French though took it up a level as a very intelligent guy who could talk well about the modern game that was changing fast.
He was a real breath of fresh air at the time.


Duel International as a player too.


RIP Ray.

Sad loss. He was a great front man for the BBC RL and came across as a real nice guy.

I do recall him turning out in a testimonial game at Belle Vue sometime in the 1970s (?) and still being able to show some classy ball play.

A huge loss for the game and the many many hours he spend doing his best for former players in there later years

I met Ray at Esher RUFC, back in the late 1990s, when Liverpool St Helens RU were the visitors.


He came and started a conversation with me, as I was wearing my London Broncos shirt at the time. 


He was an absolute gentleman.

He was very knowledgeable of the game, no doubt about that, but sorry PT, Uncle Eddie WAS a buffoon. I remember  one game at Headingley him following a white paper bag blowing across the pitch believing it was the ball.