You can't deny he's lived a life devoted to the sport, but he's a poor commentator (unless you really ache to find out a player's weight or which amateur team he came from). I'd hate to rely on his radio commentary.



David Doyle Davidson from Hull was just as bad. Spent more time waffling about a refereeing decision fro 5 minutes previously and you never knew whereabouts on the field the ball was.

I remember Ray playing, with his trade-mark one-handed, overhead passing technique.

I remember Ray French coming to a function and part of it was allowing members of the audience to commentate on a video clip as if it live,. My friend, who thought Ray French had an easy job, had a go as did several others.

Well the lesson was learned, it is not an easy task and as Ray French pointed out your preparation has to be good and the information sound. However things happen that can catch you out and then you fly by the seat of you pants.

He admitted mistakes happen, but he also pointed out that players never make mistakes as is often pointed out on these forums

.

Why people denigrate those who have put a great deal into the sport and championed it relentlessly I don't understand but then I suppose they seem to like those who take everything out and give nothing back.

It's the internet age, everyone's an instant expert - the idea of taking a lifetime to absorb and assimilate culture, knowledge and wisdom is no longer fashionable, who needs that when we have google and wikipedia?

Exactly. People knock Hemmings yet if you actually listen to his style he is one of the best in the business.



As for French he won't go down in history as an amazing commentator, but he is a brilliant man who lives and breathes the game and has done a lot for the game.

Internet messageboards attracts the sort of know-it-alls who were once confined to boring strangers in pubs. Criticism of presenters is one of their favourite topics. I suppose it must annoy the know-it-all that someone else has an opinion, other than their own, and is given a forum in which to air those opinions.



You only need to watch the fans' commentary on Sky football matches to see how difficult it is to commentate and what a mess of it the pub bore makes.



I wish Mr French a long and happy retirement and thank him for his decades of service to the Greatest Game.

That's all well and good, but it's largely irrelevant in commentary. It's a fast sport, and sadly, you need a fast mid to keep up with it.



As has been mentioned, the BBC have let him go on too long. That's not his fault, but the laziness of the BBC to develop another commentator alongside Dave Woods. George Riley is certainly not that, but is probably where they'll go.



Jonathan Davies was as awful as ever yesterday, so it's not an age thing.



I listened to 5Live a bit as well. Stuart Pyke was fine, Jon Wells very good but Jamie Jones-Buchanan didn't come across well at all. Too jokey and he sounded a little thick, which is a shame as he's obviously got a personality more than most have.

I err think Ray err French was a very err nice bloke with a good err knowledge on err Rugby. I err think err he should have err quit the err commentary a good err few years ago though.

Do you feel proud of yourself for your lack of respect for someone that has done an immense amount for the game you supposedly like?



I don't like his commentary either, but there's a way to do it without being a d*ck. it's a testament to your character that you chose the way you chose.

Nothing wrong with Davies, he just tells it as it is.

Hear, hear - time has unfortunately caught up with him, as it will us all eventually, but for 2 generations of league fans he was often the voice and face of our sport. He is still passionate about the game but can no longer do the job he has done for 30+ years so it is right he packs in but he deserves a bit more respect from the people he has served.

During the Wales game, Ray had to be corrected on the rules several times. I'm sorry, but not good enough.