About Willie John McBride
William James McBride, better known as Willie John McBride (born 6 June 1940), is a former rugby union footballer from Northern Ireland who played as a lock for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. He made 63 appearances for Ireland, including eleven as captain, and toured with the Lions five times; a record that earned him 17 Lions Test caps and 71 appearances in the red jersey. He also captained one of the most successful Lions sides, which returned undefeated from South Africa in 1974. McBride, inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2009, is regarded as one of the most influential figures ever to play the game. McBride is opposed to the use of a 23-man bench, "absolute nonsense" he considers unfair and increasing the risk of injury. == Youth == McBride was born in Moneyglass near Toomebridge, County Antrim, one of four boys; one died at a young age in a drowning accident. Owing to his father's death when he was four years old, he spent most of his spare time helping out on his family farm. Because of his commitments on the farm, he did not start playing rugby until he was 17. He was educated at Ballymena Academy and played for the school's First XV and the Ulster Schools' team. After he left he joined Ballymena and was playing for the first team within a year.
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