To think the BBC shuffled her sideways into a role she knew little about, in a sport she knew even less about into an area of the country that must have seemed completely foreign to her, I have nothing but respect for Clare Balding.
Over the last few years she has really warmed to our game and the people in it, players and "us fans up north"
She now talks like she really knows the game and asks really intelligent questions. Lets not forget she is a horse woman(lady) who has real racing pedigree and BBC pedigree.
Well, I think she is doing a great job at putting our minority sport on the map, she feels a passion for it and I think she has grown to love RL. She realises that players put their bodys on the line, she understands the working class roots, and understands the real qualities and class of our game.
On camera she strikes up a real rappore with the seasoned studio experts and shows other channels what a real anchor should be,
As long as Clare Balding is the anchor for our game on BBC i feel the great game will be projected to the nation in the best way posssible.

All I can say is well done, great job Clare and keep it going, for the good of our game. You are doing us proud.

Respect from a Hull FC supporter.

Couldn't agree more! It's because of Clare that I watched the game on the Beeb. Her half time and full time discussions made a wonderful change to the muppets on Sky.

fully agree good on claire and she has stated she has a genuine passion for the game now its not just because they pay her
I was at the game, who was commentating? That silly Welsh bloke? please please tell me it was not ray French?

Dave woods and kear. Davies, noble and millward in studio.

She's great and her enthusiasm isn't fake either. There was nothing worse than having Steve Ryder in the studio grimacing and counting down the hours when he could get back to his house in Bucks.

I must say I agree. I switched over from Skysports to BBC for the England game. I feel the BBC's representation of the sport has improved tenfold. I just hope they sign up for another few years of the CC!

I think she talks rubbish. Blaming the ref after the Challenge Cup final and saying Leeds would have won if it wasn't for Bentham.

Much prefer the Sky 3D commentators.

Wiki quote:

=#0000FF"She is the face of the BBC's rugby league coverage, having presented Grandstand from a Rugby League Challenge Cup semi-final, and having been so impressed by the vibrancy and physical challenge of the sport she requested to cover further rugby league events"

She'll do for me



[urlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clare_Balding[/url

Was Tanya Arnold chewing razor blades today?

shame they weren't around her wrists, cant stand that woman/thing

Can only repeat what most people have already said clare is doing an excellent job on th BBC long may she continue.

I like her genuine enthusiasm for the sport. I even 'red-buttoned' after the game to see the extra bits.

Yes there was: anything allowing Inverdale to comment on RL.

i agree fully, need to get rid of Jonathan Davies though..didn't have a single positive to say all day, reluctant to praise Eng and a terrible advert for our game...what the rfl is thinking having him on the wembley statue shortlist i don't know..

Is brilliant. Best sports commentator by a country mile. She sounds as if she has supported RL all her life. Also the woman who does the touchline interviews is very good, albeit in a husky, maleish type of voice.

Clare Balding is a great anchor and Steve Ryder is a great masturbater

Hit the nail on the head there

Tanya Arnold is a fox mate, well fit body, nowt wrong with her husky voice either. She's almost Audrey Hepburn esque

Welsh people are normally reluctant to praise England! Seriously though he does need to cheer up, always sounds like a wet weekend in Rhyl

Last I knew he lived in Maidenhead but the 2@ has a [url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1160876/Football-presenter-Steve-Rider-scores-big-goal-objecting-homes-poor-holiday-home.htmlsecond home in East Portlemouth, South Devon[/url

'Welcome to a wet, windy and empty Windsor Park.'

- Steve Ryder's opening gambit of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.

Steve Ryder - The mogadon of sporting anchors. Des Lynam was more animated.