I don't particularly like his delivery on t.v or radio, but think it's well deserved honour for his time and support of Rugby (both codes)
I remember going to St. Helens Rugby Union at moss Lane to watch an academy RL game and French was there helping to steward the car park.

Ray French is one of the good guys - when all around are falling to the evils of wendyball Ray stood up and kept Rugby alive at Cowley - well done Ray couldnt happen to a nicer bloke

Got his book for Christmas and have already read a good few pages. As has been already posted, one of the good people in televised sport.

Very decent guy Ray.

Probably overdue but well deserved.

Congrats.

Well done Ray,very well deserved.

Congratulations Ray! A very well deserved award (and about time too!).

Congratulations to Ray, a well deserved award, I used to see Ray and Lennie Lowe waiting for the bus to school opposite Mrs Delucies shop on Derbyshire Hill Rd, (only seems like yesterday)

Brian, I am sure he will do the same for you when you get your own ground.

Avery much deserved reward for his unstinting work

Well done Ray, fully deserved for the decades of service to the game.

Compare that to the England XI who will play 20 days of Cricket and will each earn an MBE with the coach and captain getting a knighthood!

He's terrible to listen to on tv these days but it's spot in fir his service to the game.

Well done ray

All this adoration for Mr French, is it the same man when he was a Cowley, threatened boy's who played for the Under 16 Rugby League team I ran that they would not get selected at school if they continued to play league? the same man who made so much money out of rugby league playing, books and the BBC commentating?

Personally I am not for honours for stars of TV, theatre, films or sport who have done nicely financially out out their work, I am more for the lady from Sutton who has run a young football team for many years, who like many of us gave time and money without question.

As far as the BBC TV commentating the BBC should have relieved Ray of his role many years back, once again they have managed to produce like sadly Eddie Waring became a Joker! which is not good for our great game!

I am sure Ray is a great guy and superb family man, there is no doubt his loyalty to St Helens Rugby League Club, but I was only in my early 20's when he Tried to stop young 15 and 16 year olds playing rugby league and as I state why honour someone for what they are paid to do as a job????

Cowley High School did not play rugby league while it was a grammar school. Was it still a grammar school when you were there? According to a family member who also coached rugby league and knew Ray French from Cowley High School, it was Ray French who coached rugby league at Cowley once it had become a comprehensive and once it had changed its school policy towards rugby.

Very harsh.IF Ray French said that,i am sure that you have taken it out of context.My teacher at school wasnt over keen on us playing for teams outside school,regardless of the code,due to picking up injuries,playing too many matches in one week and possible fixture clashes.
I also dont think he made a fortune from playing and i am sure his media work doesnt make him millions.He's hardly driving round town in a Rolls Royce.
Ray French has a genuine love of both codes of Rugby.He does a lot of work down at LSH that us league fans dont realise.You seem to have a chip on your shoulder about something but that should not deter from him gaining a well deserved honour.

Very much deserved, congratulations Mr French, i personnally love his commentary and one of the best after dinner speakers I have ever had the pleasure of listening to.

For the record, Cowley's got a long history of Rugby Union, certainly when i was there, 7 years ago now, it was very much the dominant code at the school, as a Pilk Recs player at the time there where numerous times i was made to feel a little pressured into putting school before club, something along the lines of 'What do you think university selectors would do if they had two educationaly balanced applicants but one plays the international sport of Rugby Union and the other plays the northern provincial sport of League, it come down to that one day etc etc....'

It may be different there now though with the like of Mike Bennet on the teaching staff and having the new training ground.