This Is Your Life: Willie John McBride

Willie John MCBRIDE (1940-)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Willie John McBride, rugby union player, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the end of his final international match for Ireland at the Lansdowne Road Stadium in Dublin.

Willie John was born into a farming family in County Antrim and started playing rugby while attending Ballymena Academy. After leaving school, he played for and captained Ballymena RFC and made his international debut for Ireland in February 1962.

He missed only one of 63 matches Ireland played during his 13-year career. He was captain in 12 internationals, including the 1974 Five Nations victory and played in 68 Lions matches over five Tours, including three times to South Africa, the last time as captain of the Invincibles in 1974.

programme details...

Edition No: 412
Subject No: 410
Broadcast date: Wed 23 Apr 1975
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Sat 19 Apr 1975
Venue: Dublin
Series: 15
Edition: 25
Code name: Pride

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unknown

production team...

Researcher: unknown
Writer: unknown
Director: Robert Reed
Producer: Jack Crawshaw

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

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Willie John McBride recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in his autobiography, Willie John: The Story of My Life...

And so I come back to the game at the Arms Park, Ireland's last in 1975 and the final international of my career. I led a combined Ireland-Scotland team against England-Wales in a centenary match at the end of the season. As I left the pitch after the game, I was totally surprised to be captured by Eamonn Andrews to be the subject of his television programme, This Is Your Life.

Series 15 subjects