Ray French

Ray French is a former rugby union and rugby league player who achieved the rare honour of representing his country (England) at international level in both codes of the game. After switching to rugby league, French enjoyed a spell at his hometown club, St Helens, but also enjoyed a successful spell at Widnes which he remembers fondly.

After training as a school teacher, [http://sport.guardian.co.uk/rugbyworldcup2007/story/0,,2194663,00.html Ashton's long road to Paris, via Leigh and Tyldesley] The Guardian - October 19, 2007] he taught at Cowley school in St Helens, where his local counterparts included Brian Ashton who taught at Stonyhurst College.

As well as continuing to coach rugby, French become a well known commentator on rugby league on both television and radio, well known for his range of colloquialisms. French is regularly heard on the Rugby League show "Try Time" each Thursday on BBC Radio Merseyside giving his views on the state of the game in his forthright way.

Also President of the St Helens Past players Association

Famous quotes

* "Every time we come to Headingley there is a dog on the pitch. Why oh why people bring dogs to Rugby games, I'll never know!"

* "He's a big lad, He's a strong lad!"

* "Well, Vince Karalius once said to me that the only good Aussie is a dead Aussie!"

* "This lad's got boots like carpet slippers"

* "And if this man doesn't get man-of-the-match today then I've misjudged my judgement of Rugby League"

* "And if you take a closer look Alex, Rick Thackeray has gorra tremendous gash.... just above his 'ead."

* "And there we see the sad sight of Martin Offiah limping off with a broken finger."

* "Well, these kicking tees get stranger by the minute. I was up in Humberside the other day, and there was a lad using one which looked like a traffic cone off the M62!!"

* "Well Joe, in today's game it's all about pasta and enzymes, when I played we only had a segment of orange".

* "Can he go all the way?"

* "He's a little lad but he's got a big heart"

* "And suddenly...!"

* "There's the hooter!"

References