Network Ten has announced the return of legendary rugby caller Gordon Bray to the commentary box, beginning with the upcoming Lions tour.
In a great sign for how seriously the station is taking their broadcast contract for Wallabies games, Bray has been teamed up with 81 Test and World Cup winning Wallaby Matt Burke.
Bray, ‘the voice of rugby’, has a 40-plus year career in broadcasting, spanning many networks, where his passion for rugby infused his call of the game.
The first Test match Bray called was on the 1976 Wallabies tour of France. This year, when he debuts for Network Ten for the June 22nd Lions Test, he will also have covered the third consecutive Lions tour to Australia, after being the voice of the 1989 and 2001 tours.
Bray said, “I am thrilled to be joining Network Ten as the Chief Rugby Commentator, especially in this year of the Lions Series.
“The Lions Tour of Australia is held every 12 years so this is a once in a lifetime experience for the players.
“Having previously called the 1989 and 2001 series, I feel very privileged to be commentator on my third Lions campaign.”
For rugby fans in Australia this news is very exciting because the Wallabies have been something of a forgotten broadcast product in recent years.
Since a long stint on the Seven Network became a bit stale and Seven dropped their coverage of the Wallabies, the national team has been languishing.
Channel Nine took up the rights but clearly viewed the Wallabies as the younger brother to rugby league and that saw plenty of Wallabies fans unhappy with the coverage, the professionalism and the timing of the broadcasts on that station.
Ten have confirmed that as rights holders for the “Wallabies Test matches until the end of 2015, all games will transmit live on Ten.”
Now we just need to work on getting the network’s signature for some coverage of Super Rugby in the next round of negotiations!
Many people believe Bray to be the best rugby caller in Australia, if not the world. Teaming him up with the highly accomplished Burke is a great move from the network.
Bray and Burke have had some time together on ESPN covering the Six Nations not long ago, so they shouldn’t find picking up the rhythm and timing of covering games together much trouble.
It should bring a smile to the face of Wallabies fans to see Ten signing up such a big name caller in Bray to partner with a high profile sidekick.
It seems someone is taking the commitment to the Wallabies seriously again.
David
Guest
I have been listening to Gordon Bray and Matt Burke for years now and am constantly irritated by their biased commentary. I would like to remind them that the are there to provide an unbiased and informative commentary of the game, not set themselves up as the Wallabies cheer squad for 80 minutes. The are constantly critical of the opposition and the where the Wallabies can do no wrong. Someone needs to have a word with them.
Melba Bird
Guest
Why are we waiting on a moderanisation!!!
Melba Bird
Guest
Perhaps you never heard the voice of Winston McCarthy. Sadly commentators of this day tell the story we can see on the TV, Winston brought to life the game without the vision. We need to go back to the unbiased commentators. Keith Quinn is OK but as a NZ living in Australia, we really just want to hear the game called as it happens without all the bias....... Perhaps this 69 year old who is so into Rugby, Cricket, Netball and Soccer would be a good "voice".....
Melba Bird
Guest
When the voice of Rugby says "let us cross to Craig Dowd for an unbiased opinion" on an obvious All Black mistake, I think he is well passed it. I am a 69 year old female, who had the privilege to listen to Winston McCarthy for many years on the radio, who made Rugby an exciting game regardless of who was playing, to have to listen to the bias here in Australia sickens me. Nick Farr-Jones, Ian Jones, so many people retired from playing rugby who could commentate so much better than the one eyed biased commentators on Channel 10 would be welcome. I watched todays game, and am still wondering why - when Australia score a try it is brilliant, but when the All Blacks scored it was a well worked play but apparently not brilliant, even tho the All Blacks won the game. I do hope the commentators watch a replay of their work so that they can up skill themselves. I have to say that I have heard the same bias when it comes to Cricket Netball and Soccer. I really feel that I could give a much better commentary that what we currently have to listen to. Sometimes we have to move with the times, sometimes I think the media do not. Regardless of my age, I am so into sport and especially between Australia and NZ, but Grant Fox, Nick Farr-Jones etc, provide a much better insight that the "voice of Rugby" he is passed it.....
Thommo
Guest
Can anybody tell me the name of the Scottish commentator on the Channel 10 coverage of the Lions v Wallabies? Thanks
Bakkies
Guest
Nugent is also the RTE director of sport so for Macken's sake I hope Nugent has a sense of humour if he wants a post playing career at the network.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
On the other hand, I find Tim Horan to be amongst the worst commentators I've ever heard, and love Kearnsy. Horan repeats the same cliches over and over, and cannot be bothered getting people's names right. Tyler Bleyendaal is not pronounced Blade-en-dool, to go with the most recent example. Professional commentators have no excuses. He's the same an Cannon, except that one takes himself seriously. Kearns knows that his role isn't to provide serious technical insight, that's Kafe, and isn't the call the play, that's Clarkey. He's there to provide a bit of humour, a bit off thoughtfulness and a bit of variety. He can, and does, speak with insight when it is required. The thing that amuses me no end is that the Kiwis that Kearns annoys are annoyed because he is doing to them what they do to everyone else. Compare the comments Kearns makes with the one-eyed commentary from Willie Lose sometime. Kearns gives credit, whereas Lose must have had his lollies stolen by an Aussie at some point.
joeb
Guest
gee, i'm utterly perplexed 'n confused. thought Buddha was pretty good, and in saying that, don't mind Clarkie & the Fox Squad one bit either. they're excellent too, including Marto and Canno and Kearnso and Helmy, gee, we're blessed!
Red Block
Guest
It was the best thing ever when GB was taken off and, the 46 year old journalist from Sydney, G. Clarke was given the nod. But it was especially good when Buddha was taken off the air during the 2007 WC after too many viewer complaints. Think I may have thrown up if I heard OVERRRRRR or a recital of The Running Game again.
joeb
Roar Rookie
"Gordon Bray back calling rugby on Network Ten" Great news, a winner for Ten & International Rugby! Better start sharpening up Ten reception then, realign the aerial... later in the year analogue transmission is set to be phased out as digital is phased in... hmm, set-top box required from Dick Smith.
Renee Matey
Roar Rookie
I hear Norman May wasn't available.
Johnno
Guest
What Kearnsey and Canno , and shaun Maloney are interesting , wowee.
sledgeandhammer
Guest
Gordon Bray is the world's most dull commentar. I hate his crappy details on players lives, which are given priority in his call over the actual play on the field. The guy is very mealy mouthed and never criticises the referees, even if they are dead wrong. At least the current Fox commentators are interesting, create some excitement, and call a spade a spade. The only other guy who should never be allowed near a microphone is that dope from QLD, Marto.
winston
Roar Rookie
spot on
RedsNut
Guest
That doesn't excuse many of the dumb things he said, even if what you said was true
Bakkies
Guest
He had to dumb it down when he was on Ch 7 commentating to new fans. On the ABC it was more die hards who were watching.
Bakkies
Guest
''Gordon Bray was good in the eighties but sadly time has passed him by. His background on players was good way back when but this is now outdated and is quite tedious'' Back then it was handy with no internet but now insightful match commentary is just required. I was disappointed with him as a studio commentator for ESPN's Six Nations coverage. His player research and knowledge has gone downhill. He knew little about the players coming through and that was his strong point when he was commentating. He is a commentator that needs to be at the ground, getting amongst the Rugby people rather then sitting up in the middle of the night in Sydney.
Rockin Rod
Guest
Finally someone we respect other than these muppetts on foxsports
Billy Bob
Guest
Yes mango all critics should remember we are coming from a very low base- channel nine ? Ray Hadley? For a World Cup? Lets all just be grateful we have a station and a commentator that actually knows and likes the game.
Mango Jack
Guest
Anything has to be an improvement on Ch9's woeful rugby braodcast. The low point being wheeling in Ray Hadley to call the RWC. The idiot clearly didn't even bother trying to learn the players names. Nor most of the rules.