William James McBride

William James McBride

William James McBride, universally known as Willie-John, was born in Toomebridge, Northern Ireland,on 6 June 1940. A member of the Ballymena club, he won the first of his 63 caps as lock for Ireland against England in 1962. Later that year he was selected for the first of his five tours with the British & Irish Lions. By the time he had led the unbeaten 1974 vintage to an historic series victory over South Africa he had played a record 70 times for the British Isles, including 17 tests. He later managed the 1983 Lions on their tour of New Zealand.His four appearances for the Barbarians included the captaincy against New Zealand at Twickenham in 1974.