Willie John McBride born 1940, Toomebridge, is a former rugby player who played as a lock for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. He became a key part of the Irish rugby team and earned 63 caps over 13 years.

He will be forever associated with the British and Irish Lions and this is where his legacy was built. He was a key member of the 2 most successful tours in the history of the Lions- New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa in 1974. He captained the Lions side in 1974 and this South African tour went down as one of the greatest Lions sides ever with a 3-0 victory over the Springboks. He retired in 1975 and in 2004 he was named Heineken Rugby Personality of the Century by Rugby World Magazine.