Gordon Bray AM

Gordon Bray AM is a respected and versatile sports commentator, journalist, author, business ambassador and, having called more than 400 Rugby Internationals, Australia’s ‘Voice of Rugby’.

Gordon began his broadcasting career as a Specialist Trainee with ABC Sport in Sydney in 1969. After completing his cadetship he was promoted to Hobart for a four-year stint where he initially called Aussie Rules, then everything from wood-chopping and power boats to hockey and hot air ballooning.

Towards the end of his Tasmanian posting he won selection for the ABC’s broadcast team at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch and has since covered ten Olympics, both Summer and Winter, plus five Commonwealth Games.

In 1976 Gordon paid his own way to France with the Wallabies and called both rugby internationals live to Australia on ABC radio. Earlier that year he attended his first Olympics in Montreal as the youngest member of the combined Australian Television team. He covered the yachting regatta for radio and television and at the start of the Games was afforded the honour of presenting the historic first live overseas colour sports transmission to Australia.

When ABC colleague Norman May retired from TV rugby commentary in 1980 Gordon stepped into the role and over the next three and a half decades became known as Australia’s ‘Voice of Rugby’, calling more than 400 test matches.

After 25 years with ABC Sport, one year at Ten and 16 years at Seven, Gordon rejoined Ten in 2013 as the Network’s Chief Rugby Caller. His most recent assignment was the 2015 Rugby World Cup as a member of ITV’s Host Broadcast commentary team.

Gordon is unquestionably one of Australia’s most versatile sports commentators as evidenced by his performance at the 2012 London Olympics with the Macquarie Radio Network where he called eight sports. They included four Aussie gold medals in sailing and kayaking, as well as tennis finals, white water kayak, archery, hockey, cycling road race and marathons.

He is both author and editor of six books on Rugby including best sellers From The Ruck and The Australian Rugby Companion.

Away from the sporting arena Gordon enjoys ambassador roles with Concierge Business Travel, Enrizen Financial Group and BMW. A former junior legatee, he has also been an ambassador for Sydney Legacy for over 25 years and also spent seven years on the school council at Pymble Ladies’ College. He is also a long-standing Australia Day ambassador.

Gordon Bray received a Member of the Order of Australia for services to sports broadcasting, rugby union and the community. In 2000 he was awarded a Prime Minister’s Sports Medal.

He is a past recipient of a Penguin Award for best Sports Presenter, a winner of The Clear Speech Award and received a TV Week Logie for ‘Best Television Sports Coverage’. Each year he returns to Hobart as the Cruising Yacht Club’s official master of ceremonies for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Gordon Bray’s lifelong passion for and knowledge of sport, his obvious media expertise plus a long and successful career as a sports commentator and author mean that he has a wealth of experiences he can draw on as a unique and entertaining after dinner sports speaker. Gordon is also in demand as a highly skilled facilitator and MC for award dinners and other events.