Willie John McBride

Willie John McBride

athlete Ireland

Willie John McBride is a legendary figure in rugby union, renowned for his leadership as captain of the British and Irish Lions during their iconic 1974 tour of South Africa, where he led the team to a historic series victory. Known for his formidable presence on the field and tactical acumen, McBride's legacy in rugby extends beyond just his playing days; he is celebrated for his contributions to the sport's history and is often cited as one of the greatest forwards of all time. His influence in rugby continues to resonate, especially in discussions around leadership and teamwork in both sport and military contexts.

Born on Apr 06, 1940 (85 years old)

Global Media Ratings
Dominance
0.00%
Persistence
2 wks
Reach
34,965
Power
972$
Sentiment
8.86
Countries Mentioned
Country Mentions Sentiment Dominance + Persistence x Population = Reach x GDP (millions) = Power
Ireland 3 7.00 0.18% +20% 5,030,000 10,798 $5,100 11$
United Kingdom 1 9.00 0.04% +0% 67,886,011 24,167 $2,700,000 961$
Totals 4 72,916,011 34,965 $2,705,100 972$
Interactive World Map

Each country's color is based on "Mentions" from the table above.

Recent Mentions

Ireland Ireland: Willie John McBride led the last Lions group to go unbeaten on tour. 8

Jac Morgan Hugo Keenan Andy Farrell Gary Keegan Caroline Currid Aled Walters Joe Schmidt Joseph Suaalii Tom Curry Tadhg Beirne Michael Hooper Carlo Tizzano
The Irish Times – major Irish daily, est. 1859: If Jac Morgan’s clear out was foul play, then rugby, as we know it, no longer exists – The Irish Times

Ireland Ireland: A Lions legend, think a Willie John McBride, Ian McGeechan, Jason Leonard or Ieuan Evans, has been invited to present caps and Test match jerseys. 8

Garry Ringrose Ian Mcgeechan Jason Leonard Ieuan Evans Andy Farrell
The Irish Times – major Irish daily, est. 1859: A change from the usual pre-match routine had me uneasy. I needn’t have worried – The Irish Times

United Kingdom United Kingdom: Willie John McBride was a captain of the Lions team that went unbeaten in South Africa during the legendary 1974 tour. 9

Syd Millar Steve Smith Sean Fitzpatrick Finlay Calder Tom Curry Scott Quinnell Trevor Ringland
The Guardian: ‘The Lions built this club’: watching the first Test at Ballymena RFC, home of Lions legends | British & Irish Lions

Ireland Ireland: Willie-John McBride, the manager during the 1983 tour, also faced no criticism. 5

Andy Farrell Jamie Osborne Thomas Clarkson Ciaran Fitzgerald Jim Telfer Paul O Connell Clive Woodward Warren Gatland Tadhg Furlong Finlay Bealham Rory Sutherland Ewan Ashman Darcy Graham Shane Williams Joe Hayes John Fogarty
The Irish Times – major Irish daily, est. 1859: Ireland’s share of Lions adds to begrudgery and pressure – The Irish Times

Ireland Ireland: Willie John McBride was the captain known for his strong leadership during the 1974 Lions tour. 8

Duncan Mcrae Ronan O Gara Brian O Driscoll Tana Umaga Keven Mealamu Luke Fitzgerald Schalk Burger Jim Telfer Roger Uttley Gordon Brown Johan De Bruyn Rob Jones Nick Farr Jones Fergus Slattery Grizz Wyllie Sandy Carmichael Alister Hopkinson Adam Jones Mike Phillips
The Irish Times – major Irish daily, est. 1859: a brief history of Lions Tour violence – The Irish Times

Ireland Ireland: The Lions teams captained by Willie John McBride in 1974 inspired the rugby world along every step of their journey because of how they played. 9

Andrew Twiggy Forest Joe Schmidt Andy Farrell Martin Johnson
The Irish Times – major Irish daily, est. 1859: It’s vital for Australia that the Lions play with style – The Irish Times

United Kingdom United Kingdom: Willie John McBride is noted for his disapproval of the number of 'foreigners' playing for the Lions. 5

Joe Schmidt David Nucifora Sione Tuipulotu Bundee Aki Walter Carey Jack Orr
BBC: British and Irish Lions 2025: Mind games as much a part of Lions folklore as rucks and mauls

Ireland Ireland: Willie John McBride is a former captain who has concerns about the current squad. 5

Johnny Sexton Scott Cummings Ben Earl Felipe Contepomi Ollie Campbell Andy Farrell Maro Itoje Kellie Harrington Tadhg Beirne Tommy Freeman Tadhg Furlong James Ryan Jamison Gibson Park
The Irish Times – major Irish daily, est. 1859: A relaxed Johnny Sexton, Dostoevsky and questions of identity – The Irish Times

Australia Australia: Ex-Lions like Willie John McBride have criticized the number of Southern Hemisphere players in the Lions squad. 4

Kieran Read Sam Warburton Joe Schmidt Richard Wigglesworth Sione Tuipulotu Mack Hansen Finlay Bealham James Lowe Jamison Gibson Park Bundee Aki Pierre Schoeman Duhan Van Der Merwe Danny Care
The Sydney Morning Herald: British and Irish Lions reject Rugby Australia golden point proposal for Wallabies Test series

Ireland Ireland: Willie John McBride is a five-time tourist who played in a remarkable 17 Tests for the Lions and captained the undefeated side in South Africa in 1974. 5

Andy Farrell Jamison Gibson Park Bundee Aki Mack Hansen James Lowe Pierre Schoeman Sione Tuipulotu Duhan Van Der Merwe Nelson Mandela Desmond Tutu
The Irish Times – major Irish daily, est. 1859: Take criticism of Lions squad make-up from likes of Willie John McBride with a hefty pinch of salt – The Irish Times