BBC pays tribute to McLaren

McLaren has been commentating for over 50 years

Flower of Scotland - Rugby fans have a rare insight into the world of rugby legend Bill McLaren with the BBC broadcast of a touching and affectionate tribute programme

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McLaren, who will retire from rugby commentary at the end of this season, is known globally as "The Voice of Rugby", and is the only non-player in international rugby's hall of fame.

But he is also an intensely private man, and although he is entering his 50th year of commentary for the BBC very few people actually know what he looks like.

On the eve of this years Six Nations Championship, John Inverdale travels to the Scottish border town of Hawick to enter the private world of Bill McLaren.

Pain

He and Bill play 18 holes of Bill's favourite golf course.

They remember some of the great matches and players Bill has commentated on, as well as visiting Hawick rugby club and reminiscing about some of the local players made good.

Bill also reveals his best-ever team, and the pride in watching his son-in-law score twice for Scotland during a match he was commentating on.

He also reveals the pain caused by the death of his daughter Janey 18 months ago, which deprived him of his "loving daughter and greatest critic".

'Daily grind'

He can be seen dancing to some of favourite music with his wife Bette, and there is archive film of Bill's career as a school sports teacher.

Finally, he casts his verdict on how the sport he loves has changed out of all recognition.

"I don't mind players playing for money but I loved the amateur game," he says.

"You trained on a Tuesday and Thursday, played matches on Saturday and the rest of the week was your own.

"I loved it when rugby was a release from the daily grind. Now it IS the daily grind."