When people mention the name Willie John McBride you immediately think of the word ‘legend’. There are many sports people who are called ‘legends’, although there are only a few that are, without doubt, worthy of that description. Lock McBride won his first rugby union international cap for Ireland against England in February 1962. He went on to win 63 caps, 11 as captain. However, it is his five tours with the British and Irish Lions that McBride that made McBride a legend. He played 17 tests for the Lions on the tours of 1962, 1966, 1968, a first series winning tour to New Zealand in 1971, and the all-conquering tour of South Africa in 1974, in which he was captain. After retiring in 1975, McBride coached the Irish team and managed the 1983 Lions tour to New Zealand. In 2019, McBride was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours list for services to Rugby Union. I got the chance to meet and photograph McBride at a celebration dinner organsied by The Events Room at the Park Plaza Hotel in Cardiff. It is an event I will never forget. A wonderful man who told some incredible rugby stories of those great days as a Lion and in the green of Ireland. At the event hosted by Sean Holley, McBride was joined by fellow 1974 Lions JPR Williams and Bobby Windsor.
Related galleries: Photographs of Sports Stars. To discuss event photography, please contact Paul on paul@paulfearsphoto.co.uk
