And it's goodbye from Bill

NEWS: Veteran rugby commentator Bill McLaren of the BBC is to hang up his microphone at the end of the season after 50 years in the commentary box. The Scot first began broadcasting in 1952 when he covered a match for an audition. Since then he has become one of the most recognised voices in the sport.

The 78-year-old said yesterday: "l'll probably finish with the Melrose Sevens in the spring because I have always loved that event.

"My last international match will be Wales against Scotland in Cardiff, and that is very fitting too because I have always received a great welcome from the people in Wales and I've loved commentating on their matches.

"I'd say the period from 1969 to 1979, when Wales played magnificent rugby, will probably be my favourite era. I've lots of memories and it will be sad to be no longer involved, but I think I'm ready to be packed off to do the dishes."

As a prominent player with Hawick, McLaren once held ambitions of representing Scotland himself before tuberculosis cut short his career in his early 20s. On recovery he worked as a PE teacher until turning to the media after responding to a BBC search for new commentators.

"I was one of six who were given 10 minutes of the South of Scotland v South Africa match to commentate on," he told The Scotsman. "I had done all my background but was still a bundle of nerves, and the South lost 44-0. But a week later I was commentating between Edinburgh and Glasgow."

"I will miss it. My wife Bettie has said that I'll not know where to put myself before a game because I have always become very focused on gathering as much as I can about players, basically to try and give listeners and viewers as much information about who's playing and what's going on as I can. It will not be the same watching the games on television either, but all good things come to an end.

" I have seen some great rugby in those 50 years, and some pretty poor rugby as well - and I've never had to pay to get in."

The Scottish Rugby Union yesterday paid tribute to McLaren: "Bill's contribution over 50 years as the voice of rugby has been immense. His biggest asset has been the knowledge and enthusiasm he brought to his broadcasts. The service he has done to spread the gospel worldwide on rugby union has been immeasurable."

Quintessential McLaren

"There appears to have been a bit of jiggery-pokery there and David Sole is

now being stretchered off the pitch.

"L-e-s-c-a-b-o-u-r-a P-o-l-e-a-x-e-d."

"And it's a try for Hika the hooker

from Ngongataha.

"They'll be singing down Kelso way tonight."

"Deans went after that like a ferret

down a rabbit hole."

"It's high enough, it's long enough,

it's straight enough."