Willie John McBride Willie John McBride William James McBride, MBE, better known as Willie John McBride (born 6 June 1940) is a former rugby union footballer who played as a lock for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. He played 63 Tests for Ireland including eleven as captain, and toured with the Lions five times — a record that gave him 17 Lions Test caps. He also captained the most successful ever Lions side, which toured South Africa in 1974. McBride was born at Toomebridge, County Antrim. Owing to his father's death when he was five years old, he spent most of
Grant McBride his former chief of staff (and son of former Police Minister Paul Whelan) John Whelan. Media reports of the incident suggested McBride had taken the trip knowing he might be removed from the Cabinet. McBride lost his position as Minister for Gaming and Racing and Minister for the Central Coast in April 2007. In May 2007, McBride was appointed Assistant Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. On 8 November 2010, McBride announced that he would not contest the 2011 state election. McBride was a qualified engineer who worked as an electorate officer to former Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam.