Another Chch visit by McBride

Press, 11 April 1979, Page 30

Another Chch visit by McBride

Willie-John Mcßride, the boast of Ballymena and probably rugby’s most revered Irishman, is to visit New Zealand again but not this time to play the game. Instead, Mcßride will he guest speaker at the Canterbury Rugby Supporters’ Club’s annual dinner. “We chose him on the recommendation of such experienced judges of after-dinner speeches as Tane Norton,” said Dennis Young, the president of ,the Supporters’ Club,yesterday. “He has a high deputation as a very witty speaker — as is any Irishman, in my experience — and he responded very quickly when I rang asking him to attend.” The most-capped international in world rugby —

80 tests, 63 of them for Ireland and the rest for the Lions — Mcßride is still active in club rugby in Belfast. But be has not played rugby in New Zealand since the 1971 Lions tour, having earlier toured with the 1966 team as well. The Supporters’ Club this year celebrates 10 years of existence. “This might not be much lined up against the union’s 100 years,” said Dennis Young, “but to recognise this minor milestone, and as the biggest club of its type in the world, we thought we should have the best.” The dinner is on October 3. Mcßride, at left, dwarfs Frank Laidlaw, one of the 1966 Lions team hookers, during the Southland match.