Bet Ray won't tell you the story of him being tired & emotional in Sydney during the World Cup ...

if saints had been there, maybe he would have seen it out

And to think when Waring went, the BBC could quite easily have had the late, great Keith Macklin to call the games ....

My personal favourites,

"He's going for that line..."

"They wear carpet slippers today, not like the boots in my day.."

I'll miss Ray French. He's been the voice of the Challenge Cup for as long as I can remember. He's very prone to the old catchphrases (6'4" former xxxxx amateur etc) and his commentary isn't the most accurate reflection of the game, but he does have real character. He is to RL what Murray Walker is/was to F1, Harry Carpenter to boxing and John Motson to football. A legend of the sport and the BBC coverage will be the poorer for his absence IMO.

I tend to agree. His commentary is not the greatest but who else is there out there ? Dave Woods just doesnt do it for me I'm afraid

God I hate Dave Woods as a commentator. He's bloody terrible. Not much better than Ray French to me.

"He's got Alan Tait to beat...

..Surely he's going to go the length...

...That is the one sensational try...

...That must rank amongst one of the finest ever seen on this ground"

Does seem a strange time to retire, hope all's well with Ray and enjoy your retirement.

"Cunningham for the liiiiiiiiiiiiine"
"Reeay, it's Leon Pryce"
"You're right Jonathon, my eyes decieve me"

Legend Frenchy. If he told once, he told us a million times that Apollo was brought up on a diet of sweet potato in the 96 cup final.

Did I read somewhere that Eddie Waring, Ray French and Dave Woods all called their first Wembley Challenge Cup Final at the same age?

As David Coleman might have said: 'Remarkable.' 'But at least you've won the Lance Todd Trophy so you must be delighted with that.'

Excellent print journalist, author and public speaker.

Terrible commentator.

Hopefully this will give him more time to focus on the areas where he does excel and allow the BBC to bring their presentation of the game into the 20th century.

Do they still do those wide aerial shots before games looking for some back-to-backs with washing strung between them?

Why on earth would they do that? They replaced Waring with French, who helped emphasise the stereotype Eddie had created, so I see no reason why they'd change now.

LOL

No it won't. It'll be better MUCH MUCH BETTER.






NOW, HAS HE GOT THE LEGS?