FORMER Wales captain and BBC rugby commentator Eddie Butler has died aged 65.
Butler was in Peru raising funds for Prostate Cymru when he died peacefully in his sleep.
The father of six won 16 caps for Wales at number eight between 1980 and 1984, six of them as captain, and also led the all-conquering Pontypool team of the early 1980s.
Butler's performances also earned him a call up to the British and Irish Lions for the tour of New Zealand in 1986.
After retiring Butler became a respected broadcaster and commentator working for the BBC while also writing a column for The Observer.
He leaves behind his wife Susan and six children – Rebecca, 38, Hannah, 36, Jack, 33, Jacob, 25, Nell, 20 and Seth, 18.
READ MORE IN SPORT
Roger Federer RETIRES from tennis at 41 after 20 Grand Slam titles due to injuries
Joshua already back in sparring and training as he closes in on Fury fight
Tributes have poured in for Butler with many devastated by the news, including former BBC colleague Brian Moore.
He said: "I am devastated by this news. Ed, I'm sorry I never told you how much I admired you as a broadcaster and as a man.
"Well, it wasn't like that between us, was it. Condolences to Sue and your family.
"Sport has lost an iconic voice, I have lost a very dear friend.
Goodbye Edward."
Former Observer colleague Amy Lawrence added; "Eddie was just wonderful, so proud to have been a colleague in the golden days of Observer Sport. Thoughts with his family."
Most read in Sport
Brentford star Ivan Toney included in England squad for first time
Pardew returns to football after signing one-year deal with Euro side
Fury's record is 'laughable' compared to AJ, says Hearn ahead of 2021 showdown
Villeneuve blasts Ricciardo’s F1 career as 'terrible' for almost half of it
Ex-England star Nick Easter wrote: "So very sad. A great man and rugby legend. Masterful way with words. #RIP"
A rugby fan wrote: "What sad news. One of the voices of rugby. And yet funnily one of the things I’ll best remember him for was his voiceover at the end of the 2012 Olympics – a great loss."
He took over responsibility as the BBC's main commentator in 2002 following the departure of Bill McLaren.
It was in that role where he forged a legendary partnership on the mic with former England hooker Moore.
Butler also covered Archery for the BBC at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and conducted a special interview with Eric Cantona for FA Cup Final edition of Grandstand in 1994.
He often did voiceover work for montages of significant sporting and political events – his last was for the coverage of The Queen's death.
Source: Read Full Article
