Eddie Butler (rugby union) explained

Eddie Butler
Birth Name:Edward Thomas Butler
Birth Date:1957 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Newport, Wales
Death Place:Cusco, Peru
Ru Position:Number eight
Amatyears1:1976–1990
Amatteam1:Pontypool RFC
Ru Amupdate:13 September 2008
Ru Nationalteam:
British Lions
Ru Nationalyears:1980–1985
1983
Repcaps1:16
Reppoints1:8
Ru Ntupdate:14 September 2008

Edward Thomas Butler (8 May 1957 – 15 September 2022) was a Welsh rugby union player, journalist and sports commentator.

Early life and rugby career

Butler was born on 8 May 1957.[1] He was educated at Monmouth School and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he studied French and Spanish between 1976 and 1978. Butler played as a number eight and gained Cambridge Blues in 1976, 1977 and 1978, Butler played in 16 matches for the Welsh national side between 1980 and 1984 and captained the side in six of those matches.[2] [3]

He captained Pontypool RFC side between 1982 and 1985, in succession to Jeff Squire. He was chosen for the Barbarians and the British Lions, touring with the latter in 1983.[4] [3] Butler retired from international rugby in 1985.[3]

Journalist and broadcaster

Whilst continuing to play for Pontypool Butler became a teacher at Cheltenham College. He joined BBC Radio Wales as a press and publicity officer in 1984 and later worked for a property developer. Butler entered journalism in 1988, writing for the Sunday Correspondent.

Butler wrote a weekly column in the Rugby Union section of The Observer Sport since 1991 and also wrote for The Guardian,[5] [6] as well as commentating for the BBC with Brian Moore, the former England hooker. Butler had first commentated alongside veteran Bill McLaren and after McClaren's retirement Butler became the BBC's lead Rugby Union commentator.[3]

He received some attention when it became public knowledge that Austin Healey's newspaper column had been written by Butler whilst Healey was on tour with the British and Irish Lions Rugby squad in Australia in 2001.[7]

Before commentating on a match, Butler prepared for several hours, absorbing as much information as he could, but taking few notes, and likened it to cramming for an examination.[8] He described writing a match report, often under time pressure, as telling a story which does not necessarily have to follow the timeline of the match so long as it is entertaining and complete.[9]

In 2008 Butler provided commentary for archery at the Beijing Olympics.[10]

Butler presented the history series: Wales and the History of the World (BBC1 Wales), Hidden Histories (BBC2),[11] Welsh Towns at War (BBC1) in 2014[12] and two series of Welsh Towns (BBC2 Wales) in 2015.[13] He was on the commentating team for the Invictus Games.[14] He also worked on association football assignments, including a special interview with Eric Cantona for an FA Cup Final edition of Grandstand in 1994.

Writing, charity work and politics

Butler published several novels, including two based on rugby. He was also an ambassador for Prostate Cymru, a Welsh organisation to raise prostate cancer awareness.[15]

Butler was a supporter of Welsh independence[16] [17] [18] [19] and spoke at a pro independence march in Merthyr Tydfil organised by YesCymru and AUOB Cymru on 7 September 2019.[20] [21]

Personal life and death

Butler was married to Susan at the time of his death and had six children.

Butler actively joined fundraising efforts for both Prostate Cymru and the Velindre Cancer Centre. On 15 September 2022, whilst taking part with 25 other Prostate Cymru charity walkers, including his daughter Nell, on the Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu, Peru, Butler died peacefully in his sleep at Ecoinka base camp near Cusco in the Andes. He was 65.[22] [23] [24] [25]

Books

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eddie Butler . 30 November 2012 . ESPN .
  2. He scored two international tries for Wales. Ian Metcalfe to join RFU Council, RFU.com, accessed 23 February 2012
  3. News: Southcombe . Matthew . Former Wales captain and much-loved rugby commentator Eddie Butler has died . 16 September 2022 . WalesOnline . 15 September 2022 . en.
  4. http://www.bloomsbury.com/Eddie-Butler/authors/1908 Eddie Butler
  5. Web site: The Guardian: Eddie Butler. TheGuardian.com. 13 March 2016.
  6. Web site: Eddie Butler . journalisted.com . 27 February 2011 . 10 March 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080310035340/http://www.journalisted.com/eddie-butler . dead .
  7. Web site: Eddie Butler. Sporting Heroes. 25 February 2012.
  8. News: BBC. Preparation is personal but paramount. 13 March 2016.
  9. News: BBC. Writing a match report. 13 March 2016.
  10. News: Smith. Giles. Eddie Butler becomes the voice of archery. The Times. en. 11 August 2008. 29 May 2021. 0140-0460.
  11. Web site: Daily Post North Wales: "Eddie Butler swaps rugby for history" . Dailypost.co.uk . 10 October 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120929165604/http://www.dailypost.co.uk/leisure/tv-wales/programme-news/2010/02/27/eddie-butler-swaps-rugby-for-history-55578-25920022/ . 29 September 2012 .
  12. News: Wales Online. 'My new life as a novelist': Eddie Butler on the First World War and the world of rugby fiction. 23 August 2014. 13 March 2016.
  13. Web site: BBC Programmes. 14 March 2016.
  14. Web site: BBC reveals coverage plans for Invictus Games. 13 November 2018.
  15. News: Western Telegraph. 11 November 2018. Lynch, David. Eddie Butler visits Prostate Cymru fundraising champ. 13 November 2018.
  16. Web site: 11 February 2022 . Eddie Butler: Wales has been abandoned by Westminster . 1 September 2022 . Nation.Cymru . en-GB.
  17. Web site: Thomas . Simon . 21 September 2021 . Eddie Butler is worried about Wales and says independence is the only way . 1 September 2022 . WalesOnline . en.
  18. Web site: Eddie Butler says Wales 'lacks confidence' to take responsibility for governing itself . 1 September 2022 . The National Wales . en.
  19. Web site: Full Eddie Butler Speech – AUOB Merthyr . 1 September 2022 . YesCymru EN . en.
  20. News: BBC News. 'It's better to be free and poor than be a servant and poor'. 12 September 2019. 2 February 2021 .
  21. Web site: Eddie Butler Speaking at March For Independence Merthyr Tydfil 2019 . YesCymru Youtube channel . 27 September 2019.
  22. News: Former Wales captain and commentator Eddie Butler dies aged 65. The Irish Times. 15 September 2022.
  23. News: Eddie Butler death: Latest tributes as rugby world devastated. 15 September 2022 . Wales Online . 15 September 2022.
  24. News: Eddie Butler: Former Wales rugby captain and legendary broadcaster dies aged 65 . 15 September 2022 . BBC Sport . 15 September 2022.
  25. News: Eddie Butler, Wales rugby union international who went on to succeed Bill McLaren as the BBC's 'voice of rugby' . 17 September 2022 . The Telegraph . 16 September 2022.
  26. Web site: Greatest Welsh XV Ever, The . Waterstones . 16 September 2022.
  27. Web site: Head of Gonzo Davies, The . Waterstones . 16 September 2022.
  28. Web site: Gonzo Davies Caught in Possession . Waterstones . 16 September 2022.
  29. Book: Butler . Eddie . The Asparagus Thieves . October 2017 . Gomer Press . 978-1-78562-222-9 . 17 September 2022 . en.

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