Lions Legends - Willie John McBride

“There was nothing that Willie John would ask of any man that he wasn’t prepared to do himself.” – Gareth Edwards.

“The biggest natural leader of British & Irish rugby in the 70s, when it was the best in the world.” – Ian McGeechan.

“When he spoke, then people listened... and people knew that what he was saying was about to come to pass.” – Mike Gibson.

“He was a real leader of men.” – Hannes Marais

Wherever one may look in the rugby world, the name Willie John McBride is both known and shrouded in praise from old friends and old enemies alike.

McBride’s rugby ability can be viewed in light of the fact that four years after he first picked up a ball (at the age of 17), he was running out in the green Irish jersey for his international debut.

He had all the makings of a great tight forward; standing 1.92m, weighing 102kg and primed for contact sport through vigorous farm labour all through his youth.

“I believe that those years gave me not only a strength, but, mentally, it gave me that will to go on...because when you went into a field and so much had to be done, there was no such thing as ‘stopping at half-time,’ as I would say... you had to go the whole way, and that was great training mentally.” McBride said.

During his long career, he represented Ballymena RFC, Ulster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions.

Upon his retirement from the game, he had 63 caps for Ireland and is, to this day, the most capped Lions player of all time with 17, and was a part of five tours, the most famous of which were his final two; the 1971 tour to New Zealand and the 1974 tour to South Africa.

The 1960s was a profoundly difficult decade for the Lions as it saw them defeated in all three of their tours. It seemed that the strain of losing in the famous red jersey had taken its toll on McBride who, after returning from South Africa after a humiliating 3-0 series defeat, decided that his Lions days were over. James Carwyn (coach of the 1971 tour to New Zealand), however, had other things on his mind, and flew to Belfast to meet with the Irish lock.

“He [Carwyn] looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘But Willie John, I need you.’

And, you know, it knocked me off the chair... because nobody had ever said that to me in my life before. He said, ‘This will be different...we are going to win.’ “ McBride recalls.

Carwyn’s powers of persuasion bore fruit as Willie John found himself making the journey with the Lions to New Zealand in what would prove to be a first (and, to date, only) series victory for the men in red against the mighty All Blacks.

Still on the high of victory after the dark days of the 60s but also still hungry to pour more pride back into the Lions jersey, McBride was chosen to lead the team on the illustrious 1974 tour of South Africa- a tour which will always be remembered for its violence, politics, but, above all, a second consecutive Lions series victory. After the third test – where the Lions sealed the series – McBride left the field hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates – a testament to what he, as a player and captain, had meant to them and the Lions tradition.       

In the furnace that was the game of rugby in the 1960s and 70s, Willie John, through his courage, skill and leadership, forged himself a reputation as a giant of the game – a reputation which endures to this day and will endure for as long as rugby lives.