Match of the Day host Gary Lineker has paid a heartfelt tribute to Eddie Butler following his untimely death.
Ex-Wales captain and long-time BBC commentator Butler died in his sleep on a charity trek in Peru at the age of 65 on Thursday. The news prompted an outpouring of emotion from across Wales and further afield, with colleagues and friends Jonathan Davies and Brian Moore leading the messages of condolence.
Butler represented his country 16 times, captaining them on six of those occasions, while also turning out for the British & Irish Lions but he was probably better known for his time behind the microphone, commentating on Six Nations games and providing his tones for emotion-dripped voiceovers.
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Lineker, on the BBC Premier League highlights show on Saturday evening, paid his own tribute to the former Wales skipper-turned-broadcaster, passing on everyone at MOTD's best wishes to Butler's nearest and dearest, calling him a "true Welsh poet".
"Everyone at Match of the Day would like to send their condolences to the friends and family of the great Eddie Butler, who has died at the age of 65," he said.
"As a rugby union player he won 16 caps for Wales and captained his country on six occasions. As a broadcaster he rose to even greater heights, an iconic commentator who became the soundtrack to the Six Nations.
"A wonderful wordsmith also, his evocative voiceovers capturing the story of so many sporting occasions and major events.
"A true Welsh poet. We'll miss him. Nos da, Eddie."
A special edition of ScrumV will pay tribute to Butler this evening on BBC Two Wales at 6pm.
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