Willie john mcbride autobiography meaning
This Is Your Life: Willie John McBride - Big Red Book.
Willie john mcbride autobiography meaning
My rugby hero: Willie John McBride
We dig through the archives to highlight a hero from years gone by. Next up, it’s British and Irish Lions legend Willie John McBride.
Player background
William James McBride was born on 6 June, 1940 in Toomebridge, a small village in County Antrim, and is one of the greatest players to have ever pulled on a British and Irish Lions shirt.
McBride took up rugby relatively late at the age of 17 but once he began playing his talent was obvious and he quickly rose through the ranks after playing in the Ballymena Academy school’s XV.
The second-row joined Ballymena RFC and then made his Ireland debut in 1962 when he was just 21.
It was there, on 10 February against England at Twickenham, where the gargantuan forward began a long and distinguished international career. McBride immediately became a key part of the Irish squad and eventually earned 63 caps – a remarkable effort for a player in that era – over 13 years in the green jersey.