Ray French, the former commentator of the Rugby League, died at the age of 85. He lived with dementia.
He played international in Union, winning four ceilings in the second row for England in 1961, before moving to the league and joining his hometown club, St Helens, that year and helped them win the Cup challenge in 1966. He appeared four times for Great Britain in 1968.
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After 204 appearances for saints, he joined Widnes in 1967, playing 123 games for the fireplace. Far from the field, he was an English teacher and rugby master at Cowley High School.
French succeeded Eddie Waring as a commentator of the BBC Rugby League in 1981 and retired in 2008, continuing on the radio. He was the correspondent for the Rugby League for the newspaper Today when it was launched in 1986 and 2011, he received a MBA for services at the Rugby League.
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Dave Woods, his successor to the BBC, said on X: “So many fabulous memories of Ray as an Imi and colleague. He injected an incredible warmth and passion into his comment and his journalism. Just a wonderful, kind and humble man. You have always wanted to be in company.”
Jonathan Davies, his co-recommented on the BBC for many years, said on X: “had very good days with Ray, he was such a charming man. I hope that the RL appreciated what the great work did for the game.”
