Ray French

[The 4 of Us]

 

[dkw]

Sad news, I grew up with his voice being the only one I remember from tv games.

[sentoffagain2]

    Proper Rugby man through and through having played under both codes.Took the commentators baton from Eddie Waring and i think his first RL Cup Final was 82/83 Featherstone Rovers v Hull FC  .R.I.P.

[EggFace]

Top bloke.

[graveyard johnny]

sad news - "its thrrrrrr" and "all credit to"  were 2 of the lines I will always remember 

[Chrispmartha]

Sad news. The voice of my childhood.

 

RIP

[OriginalMrC]

Really sad news. He was undoubtedly a legend of the sport. He was a big supporter of grassroots rugby and came to watch Coventry Bears a few times. 

[graveyard johnny]

no report of this at all on the BBC  sports or news website which seems bizarre even by their standards

[Rene_Artois]

Voice of my rugby league childhood too.

[Big Picture]

Sad news, he was a great servant of the game. 

[RigbyLuger]

11 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

no report of this at all on the BBC  sports or news website which seems bizarre even by their standards

They ignored Doug Laughton. But, they'll be waiting for the RFL/other official confirmation, because he "died" a few months ago and had an obituary posted on here!

[Damien]

26 minutes ago, OriginalMrC said:

Really sad news. He was undoubtedly a legend of the sport. He was a big supporter of grassroots rugby and came to watch Coventry Bears a few times. 

This, and a regular at student Rugby league too when I played there. RIP.

[EagleEyePie]

Also the voice of my childhood too. My first memories of watching rugby league on TV were challenge cup games on the BBC. When I'd go into the garden and throw a rugby ball around and ruin my clothes diving on the grass it was the voice of Ray French in my head exclaiming it was a spectacular try.

In his later years I remember being a bit grumpy and complaining he wasn't any good (probably more to do with the Saints connection) but since he stopped commentating Challenge Cup games have never felt the same. 

I remember being shown a clip of Ray French commentating on what I think was a Widnes game where he was saying how dummy half Phil McKenzie could run but accidentally combined the words forward and hooker. Never failed to raise a smile. 

RIP

[bobbruce]

He along with the two Eddies has been the voice of rugby league in my lifetime. As most people will say just a genuinely nice man. RIP Ray. 

[Andy JG]

Really sad news... I was too young to remember him as a player, but I vividly remember him taking over from Eddie Waring as the BBC commentator.

RIP

[The Hallucinating Goose]

RIP Ray, one of the absolute legends of our sport.

You'll never be forgotten.

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

Loved the guy as the BBC face of Rugby League.  Once saw him at Belle Vue in a testimonial exhibition game and was amazed at the skills he still had.

The way he pronounced George Furburn always sticks in my mind. RIP

Edited July 26, 2025 by Wollo Wollo Wayoo

[N2022]

2 hours ago, graveyard johnny said:

no report of this at all on the BBC  sports or news website which seems bizarre even by their standards

@graveyard johnny - there is one now... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cde3yzppz18o

[Dave T]

RIP Ray.

I remember when he was criticised a lot for commentary (we're never happy!), but his contributions on the red button forums on BBC and various fan forums I attended, he was superb. Very knowledgeable, level headed, entertaining and came across as a genuinely good bloke.

[RigbyLuger]

7 minutes ago, Dave T said:

RIP Ray.

I remember when he was criticised a lot for commentary (we're never happy!), but his contributions on the red button forums on BBC and various fan forums I attended, he was superb. Very knowledgeable, level headed, entertaining and came across as a genuinely good bloke.

The BBC let him go on too long, which is their fault and not his, but at his pomp, the voice of so many great moments.

[Dave T]

10 minutes ago, RigbyLuger said:

The BBC let him go on too long, which is their fault and not his, but at his pomp, the voice of so many great moments.

Agreed. Even late on his career though he was an excellent speaker about the game, irrespective of his live match commentary. I recall being surprised seeing him at a fans forum how sharp, intelligent and entertaining he was.

[RigbyLuger]

4 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Agreed. Even late on his career though he was an excellent speaker about the game, irrespective of his live match commentary. I recall being surprised seeing him at a fans forum how sharp, intelligent and entertaining he was.

Brilliant on the red button forums. His knowledge much missed and replaced with golf club banter 

[moorside roughyed]

Rugby league is much poorer today. Ray was a rugby encyclopedia. They don't make em like him anymore. Sympathies to his family and all that knew him. RIP.

[Gooleboy]

A man who lived and breathed Rugby League. Very sad news. RIP Ray.

[Loiner]

R.I.P Ray, I was brought up listening to Eddie Waring and you, the pair of you didn't deserve the ridicule you sometimes received. You were the voice of rugby league. A sad day for rugby league.