Winston McCarthy

Who was Winston McCarthy?

Winston John McCarthy was a Rugby Union radio commentator during the 1940s through to the 1960s who became known as the "Voice of New Zealand Rugby". He is particular remembered for his broadcasts of the NZEF "Kiwis" during World War II and later the All Blacks matches.

Born in Wellington he was educated at St Patrick's College, Wellington. A promising halfback, he played for the Manawatu B and Bush teams in the 1930s. In 1936 he moved to the South Island's West Coast and played rugby league for the Waiuta club before a shoulder injury put an end to his playing career.

He began a career in radio in 1937 when he began work as programme organiser for the National Broadcasting Service at station 2YD in Wellington. During the Second World War he worked with well-known sports broadcaster Wallie Ingram as a result of a posting to the Army Education and Welfare service. In 1945-46 he was chosen to broadcast commentaries of the games played in Europe by the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force rugby team, nicknamed The Kiwis. These were the first live rugby broadcasts from the UK to New Zealand. It was during one of these matches that he coined his catch-phrase "Listen... Listen... It's a goal!"