Ray taught me at Cowley Grammar from 1971 to 1976 both in the classroom and on the Rugby pitch. This was the time of "never the two codes will meet". He never once showed bias to either code and even had RL Pros (Ian MacCorquadale for one) helping him coach there. He brought a lot of lads into the school from League to play Union (Ian Potter and Mick Burke for eg) and then helped with their entry into the Pro Game. He arranged Half time RU 7 a sides at Saints v Wigan Games.

He deserves his MBE for his Services to School Sport in the St Helens area alone, never mind anything he has done on TV. A lot of lads owe an awful lot to "Uncle Earie" especially those that were fortunate enough to go on the many Globe Trotting Tours he arranged. The guy is a star and anybody who says different doesn't know him.

That is your opinion! I can name many Great Guys who did much more for school sport and in particular Rugby League and not union.

Still do not agree with the honours system!

Good point....plenty of Ex pros' devote much more of their own personal time to coach or help out at Amateur clubs.

commentating on Rugby League in a shockingly bad way for so long doesnt warrant an award in my opinion. He's not a visionary. he's not knowledgable (unless you class knowing every former Thatto heath/blackbrook amatuer turned pro as knowledgeable), and he's not very good at his job.

apparantly a decent after dinner speaker though

Well, if commentating was the only reason he won the award then I'd agree with you. However, you show amazing ignorance of what Ray French actually did for the game so I'm not even going to bother debating it with you. Suffice it to say, he did an incredible amount more than commentating on the game and if you read any of his books you will also discover that he knows one hell of a lot about the sport.

But it is a totally outdated view of the game, rugby league has moved on! would you bring back Alex Murphy as coach? the answer is NO!

French is now more an embarrassment to the game then Eddie Waring was close to the end, but the BBC are not bothered because they treat our game as joke, there would be much more respect for Ray is he had retired around two years back and even more, yes carry on his weekly newspaper column, yes BBC Radio Merseyside, the research shows what demographic listen to that! but to want to carry on and on and on is sad!

Judging from your posts, French has forgotten more about RL in the last 5 minutes than you've ever known.

Whilst I would like to respond I would first be interested to learn of which of Ray's books you have actually read and what specific view in which particular book is "totally outdated" ?

go on then dont accuse me of ignorance without putting me right...Ive been watching the game since 1979 and I couldnt tell you of one thing Ray French has done for the game other than reinforce the fact that Northern People cant speak properly. at least Eddie Waring another criticised for his poor commentary actually was a driving force behind Getting rugby League televised.

If French has done similar things you should let us ignorant people know...

Ray French speaks fluent Sintellins. That means he is extremely articulate.

He also has a degree in English and taught English at Cowley High. However, based upon the grammar in your post, you really aren't in a position to criticise Ray's linguistic skills!

You might have watched the game since 1979 but it doesn't look like you know much about it.

Really? I think you are mistaking someone who sets his comments in an historical context with someone who has an outdated view of the game. Unless, of course, you consider, say, the opinion that England doesn't have pacey wingers but in actual fact [ishould[/i have pacey wingers as an outdated view?

Do you read Ray's column in the RL press each week?


Eddie Waring suffered from dementia close to the end so your comment here is crass.

And you were doing so well sounding so pompous with your accusations of ignorance....

you still haven't enlightened me as to his vast involvement in the game of Rugby League, is he up there with Jean Galia for example?