Eddie Butler.

thommo wrote:

Eddie was not afraid to ask the right questions. No better example was when on scrim v he took that obnoxious lowlife Gareth Thomas apart for his role in getting Ruddock sacked.

RIP Eddie a good guy.

Indeed he did, he stared down the bully who ranted and raved, truth hurts

It does annoy men when people say he wasnt welsh enough , utter small minded nonsense. You can actually be welsh, a patriot and an eloquent intelligent cambridge grad too...

Butler was a class act and the fact the hardest team in britain made him their captain shows how he earned their respect too. The man was class.

ROYMOND MUNTER MBE (FOR SERVICES TO THE COMBOVER)

GPR - Rochester wrote:

scarletpimp wrote:

reesytheexile wrote:

Sad news. Spent half an hour chatting with Eddie some 5 or 6 years ago when he was to speak at a literary book event in Mumbles and we were there early. I had last met him in the late’70’s over Abergavenny way when we spent a couple of hours drinking in the kitchen as men did in those days! A really good guy and of course pretty bright as well. In fact , a few of his fellow Welsh accused him of being “too English and biased “ despite his playing for Ray Prosser at Pontypool and as Captain for years, along with doing likewise for Wales. It seemed to cause chips on shoulders to bristle because he came from Monmouth way and went to Cambridge to read modern languages and was an erudite communicator. He also spoke at Welsh independence rallies- yet he was too English 😂 Embarrassing stuff. The tributes to Eddie tonight show how well thought of he was by his peers. RIP Eddie. We shall miss you

Wonderful words Reesy..many thanks!

Your right, its typical in Wales, that we don't know what we have til its gone! Carwyn James, being a prime example.

Eddie was a good player, but as a broadcaster, he was truly one of the finest!

He had that remarkable, rich warm, unique Welsh delivery, that was almost poetic. I could listen to him talk on television or radio, or read prose, all day.

His knowledge and understanding of rugby was excellent, and he had developed his understated style, coupled with dry humour. This of course, was in complete in contrast to that of his to his frequent "sparring partner" Brian Moore, which would lead to some wonderful almost comic moments during commentary. Lovely tribute from Brian by the way.

In the wider perspective, as Ressy has indicated, Eddie's contribution to Welsh life and culture, went well beyond rugby. He also contributed hugely to many charities.

My final memories of him, were the sincere, rich and warm tribute to our own legend Phil Bennet(benny). It was eloquent and touching, and no one could it better than Eddie.

Now sadly, he has gone himself...so suddenly, leaving many of us shocked!

Rugby, and Welsh life will be much poorer for his passing.

We at Parc will miss you Eddie, and heartfelt condolences go wife, children and family

Reesy & Pimp - you have summed up my feelings precisely. RIP Eddie - gone far too young. A true broadcasting great.

I second that - lovely reminiscences from reesy, and an exact summing up from pimp - Eddie was a good player, but a great broadcaster blessed with a superb speaking voice... I knew of his love of France, but oddly didn't realise (or maybe had forgotten) that his degree was in French and Spanish... he did some superb pieces from France in the run-up to tests over there.

As a number of you have said, his to-and-fro commentaries with Brian Moore were often comedy gold - the suave Welshman and the fiery Englishman, an inversion of the stereotypes. It's no surprise that the honest, heart-on-sleeve Moore has commented movingly on Eddie's passing. I was also mystified by the occasional hostility to Eddie, apparently on the grounds that he was 'posh', or something... he always seemed a lovely man, though I never met him.

RIP, Eddie.

“You cannot reason a man out of what he never reasoned himself into.” (Jonathan Swift)

Gary Lineker also mentioned on MOTD "Nos da Eddie"

RIP Eddie Butler

N11