Players and fans prepare for tribute to Bill McLaren

Published on Tuesday 9 March 2010 22:20

SCOTLAND players preparing for Saturday's Calcutta Cup will join the thousands expected at Murrayfield tomorrow night to honour the memory of legendary commentator Bill McLaren.

Nick De Luca spoke yesterday after being restored to Scotland's team for this weekend's game about the BBC commentator who passed away last month aged 86, and he will be joined by players including Max Evans, Alastair Kellock and Sean Lamont at the tribute evening in the stadium.

At the other end of the age spectrum, Ireland's legendary centre Mike Gibson, a successful British and Irish Lions cap, has joined the throng of past players to pay tribute to McLaren. His fellow Lions Andy Irvine and Gavin Hastings of Scotland, Bill Beaumont from England and Wales' wing wizard Gerald Davies will all provide tributes tomorrow night and past and present Scotland coaches will also attend the celebration.

But it is testament to the place McLaren has in rugby history that the affection for him is as strong among the new generation of players as it is with those who hung up their boots several decades ago. De Luca said: "I grew up listening to Bill and I wouldn't miss the opportunity to reflect on the joy he brought to so many people and join the celebration for the manner in which he brought rugby to life.

"Thursday will be a memorable day and it would be fitting for Bill's family and friends if as many people as possible attend the tribute."

The McLaren family had considered a church memorial service, but when the SRU offered Murrayfield the idea of staging a one-off evening of celebration in what the "Voice of Rugby" considered his second home seemed like too good an opportunity to miss.

Admission is free and supporters are welcome to the stadium from 5pm with the tribute due to begin at 6.30pm. The evening will be hosted by Dougie Donnelly and will reflect on McLaren's 50-year broadcasting career and many of his other passions, with opportunities to remember magic moments of action enlivened by his commentary.

The Hawick, Scotland and British Lions quartet, Hugh McLeod, Colin Deans, Jim Renwick and Tony Stanger, will be among the speakers and Scotland's most capped player Chris Paterson and the former New Zealand All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick have also been lined up to add their appreciation.

Musical entertainment will be provided by massed pipes and drums and the Morriston Orpheus Choir as some of McLaren's favourite music blends with commentaries for a soundtrack to the evening of celebration of the life of a uniquely talented Scot.