A proud St Helens native, French was a school teacher turned dual-code rugby international, a newspaper writer, a successful author, and the iconic voice of the BBC’s Rugby League coverage on radio and television for 37 years.
The English teacher at Cowley High School originally played Rugby Union, where he played for St Helens RUFC for three years, earning four international caps for England. He made the switch to join his hometown Rugby League club in the summer of 1961.
As a battling, workman-like forward, French’s impact on our team was strong, playing his part in the Club winning the 1961-62 Lancashire Cup Final against Swinton in his first season, the first of three Lancashire Cups he would win as a Saint.
A unique bit of history saw Ray French become the first ever Saints substitute following the introduction of substitutions in the 1964/65 season – one of only three times he would come off the bench to play for St.Helens in 204 appearances.
The 64/65 season saw St.Helens finish top of the league and win the Lancashire League Championship, with French a key part of one of the greatest set of forwards our club has ever seen. That campaign was followed by a four-trophy season in 1965/66, with the major highlights being the 1966 Challenge Cup Final victory over Wigan at Wembley Stadium, and the Championship Final win over Halifax. In the following season, he was named captain of his hometown club.
Close to the start of the 1967/68 season, Ray joined Widnes, where he would earn international league honours with Great Britain selection.
His legacy as a Saint will see him long remembered by both our club and town, but his voice will be forever connected to countless memories for supporters of so many clubs across the country. Succeeding the great Eddie Waring as the BBC’s Rugby League commentator, French was the voice of almost 30 Challenge Cup Finals, as well as thousands more matches for BBC Radio.
Ray was awarded the MBE in the 2011 New Year’s Honours for services to Rugby League, having received the Mike Gregory Spirit of Rugby League Award the previous year, and been added to the RFL’s Roll of Honour in 2008.
In 2019, when the RFL launched the 1895 Cup and polled supporters for a fitting name for the player of the match award in the Wembley Final, Ray was a landslide winner. He presented the first award in 2019 and his son, Gary, presented the sixth to the York Knights captain Liam Harris last month.
Eamonn McManus, St.Helens R.F.C. Chairman, said: “Ray French was a giant of a man in every sense of the word.
“He touched and influenced so many people and in so many good and lasting ways during his rich and varied life as a school master, a rugby player and a broadcaster.
“His warm personality and unique voice will be sorely missed by all. But he leaves a permanent and meaningful legacy to so many in his home town of St Helens and throughout his beloved sport of rugby league.
“One of my greatest privileges as Chairman of St Helens over the last 25 years was getting to know Ray as a friend as well as an iconic figure in our sport.
“His loss is keenly felt and we all pass on our heartfelt condolences to his family to whom he was so close.”
Nigel Wood OBE, the Chair of Rugby League Commercial, said: “Ray French was one of the true gentlemen of Rugby League and represented the finest qualities of the sport. A great player, broadcaster and a huge influence behind the scenes, and always as a force for good.”
Everyone at the Club would like to send our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to all of Ray’s family and friends at this very sad time.