Rugby league legend Billy Boston, 90, made history today by becoming rugby league’s first ever knight commander. This ends a long wait for the sports first representative to be knighted, an issue which had been brought up in parliament recently, with no-one associated with rugby league in its 130-year history ever being knighted before.
Wigan & Great Britain legend Sir Billy made the jump to the thirteen-a-side code in 1953, having previously played for rugby union sides Neath & Pontypridd in his native Wales. He played 488 times for Wigan, scoring a club record 478 tries in the process. With Wigan he won 1 league title, 3 Challenge Cups, 2 Lancashire Leagues and 1 Lancashire Cup. On an international level, Sir Billy was part of the Great Britain side that won the 1960 Rugby League World Cup.
He also has the rare distinction of having two statues in his honour. One of which is outside Wembley Stadium, where he features alongside fellow rugby league’s greats Eric Ashton, Martin Offiah, Alex Murphy, and Gus Risman. The second statue Sir Billy features on also includes Gus Risman, and Clive Sullivan. The three Welsh rugby league icons have a monument in their honour on Cardiff Bay.
Sir Billy, who suffers with dementia, was knighted in a ceremony today by King Charles at Buckingham Palace. His wife, Lady Joan, said his family “are so proud of him” and “excited that everything he’s done for the sport and for our community is being recognised”. Wigan Warriors chairman added: “I am absolutely delighted and so happy that Billy – and rugby league – has finally received the ultimate recognition his stellar career deserves.”
Everyone at Gerrim Onside sends their hearty congratulations to Sir Billy on this well-deserved honour.
Written by Nathan Major-Kershaw (Site editor & Hull KR)
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