The world of rugby union is today mourning Bill McLaren, the legendary TV commentator who has died aged 86.

Bill, who became known as the voice of the sport over a commentating career spanning six decades, started out as a junior reporter on the now defunct Hawick Express in the late 1940s.

It was through his reporting with the Express that he launched himself into broadcasting, making his national debut for BBC radio in 1953, when Scotland were beaten 12-0 by Wales.

He later wrote a column for The Herald, Glasgow, which continued until shortly before his retirement from the BBC in 2002.

Bill’s unmistakeable voice came to represent rugby in the same way as Murray Walker’s did motor racing and Peter O’Sullevan’s horse racing.

Among the personal highlights of his career was the commentary for Scotland’s Grand Slam victory over England at Murrayfield in 1990.

At his final commentary in Cardiff eight years ago – the 2002 Six Nations clash between Wales and Scotland – the Millennium Stadium crowd sang ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’ in his honour.

He died yesterday at the community hospital in Hawick in the Scottish Borders where he had lived all his life.