Widnes Vikings were saddened to learn today of the death of our former player, Ray French, at the age of 85.
We remember Ray as a dual-code international, as a member of the hugely successful St Helens teams of the early and mid-1960s, as a long-serving TV and radio commentator but also for his influential stint as Widnes club captain.
By the time Ray joined Widnes from St Helens in September 1967, the majority of the 1964 cup-winning team had moved on – indeed Frank Myler went in the opposite direction to Knowsley Road in the same deal. The Chemics committee wanted a leader on the field and in the dressing room who would inspire the next generation in the forward pack and look after the youthful backs, and that is exactly what he did.
Though his four seasons at the club did not bring any silverware to Naughton Park, Ray was a mentor to younger players such as Mal Aspey, Ray Dutton, George Nicholls, John Foran, Dennis O’Neill, Reg Bowden, Eric Hughes and Keith Elwell who went on to achieve so much in the game. He led by example with his hard-as-nails forward play, his words of advice and encouragement but also with a sense of humour that worked wonders for team spirit.
Ray was born in St Helens and recalled playing a 20-a-side street version of rugby league as a boy. But he learned union as a pupil of Cowley grammar school – where he later worked as a teacher for many years, and carried on with the 15-a-side code at Leeds University, where he studied English, Latin, and Russian. Ray earned four full RU caps for England in the 1961 Five Nations championship before turning professional with his hometown club, with whom he won every available honour as well as county caps – though it was not until his move to Widnes that he was capped for Great Britain during the 1968 World Cup.
Following his playing retirement in 1971, Ray continued his teaching career – he also had a spell working at Fairfield Senior School in Widnes – but he later wrote numerous books on both codes of rugby, was a RL journalist for the Today newspaper and was known to millions as Eddie Waring’s successor in the BBC TV commentary box, a role he filled from 1981 to 2008.
As well as his paid work, Ray gave up countless hours of his spare time to support charities and RL at all levels, including the amateur and student game. He was a tireless advocate for the sport and was awarded an MBE in 2011 in recognition of his services to rugby league.
Ray will be sorely missed, and we send our sincere condolences to his family and friends at this sad time.
