Rugby League: Billy Boston becomes first in sport to receive knighthood
Former rugby league legend, Billy Boston, has been knighted by King Charles in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. At the age of ninety, he is the sport's first player to receive a knighthood in its 130-year history. Sir Billy made almost five hundred appearances for Wigan Warriors in the 1950s and 1960s.He is also known as a trailblazer for black sports stars during this time.
Who is Sir Billy Boston?
Sir Billy is one of the rugby league's legends, finishing his career with a British record of 571 tries to his name.He was born in 1934 in the Tiger Bay area of Cardiff.As a young boy, he always wanted to play rugby union for Wales.However, in those days, opportunities were limited for black players in the sport and Sir Billy made the difficult decision to switch sports to rugby league.He signed for Wigan Warriors and it was at the north west club where his talent really shone through and he made a name for himself.Boston went on to score 478 tries in 488 matches during his 15-year career at Wigan, winning three Challenge Cups for the club. Internationally, he made history as the first non-white player to be selected for a Great Britain rugby league Lions tour in 1954.He made 31 Test appearances for Great Britain and was also part of the team that won the 1960 Rugby League World Cup.Sir Billy has been praised for helping to open doors for black players in the sport.
The rugby league legend was accompanied at Buckingham Palace by his family and colleagues from his former club. After receiving his knighthood, Sir Billy's wife Lady Joan, said his family were "so proud of him" and "excited that everything he's done for the sport and for our [rugby league] community is being recognised".Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was also full of praise for Sir Billy and his achievements."Boston is a legend of the game who overcame prejudice to represent Great Britain and opened the door to a more diverse game," Sir Keir explained.He added that it was a "historic wrong" that no rugby league player had received a knighthood until now.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Inside Bath's generation game driving their hunt for Premiership glory: 'We're ready to write our own story'
Phil de Glanville is designated driver for the family's mass migration to Twickenham, so if his son, Tom, emulates his league title success with Bath, he'll have to wait a few hours before toasting the overdue triumph. For the ex-England captain and his team-mate from the West Country club's glory era, rampaging back-rower Steve Ojomoh, there will be extra-special parental pride if the Premiership final is won by the team who dominated the season. They will watch in hope of seeing their boys – full-back Tom and centre Max Ojomoh – finally end Bath's 29-year wait to become champions of England again.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Thomas Frank appointed new Tottenham head coach on three-year deal after club paid hefty release clause to lure him from Brentford and replace sacked Ange Postecoglou
Thomas Frank has been confirmed as Tottenham 's new head coach on a three-year contract. Frank is moving across London after nine years at Brentford to succeed Ange Postecoglou, sacked last Friday, 16 days after his team won the Europa League. 'In Thomas we are appointing one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches within the game,' said a Spurs spokesman. 'He has a proven track record in player and squad development and we look forward to him leading the team as we prepare for the season ahead.' Brentford's director of football Phil Giles issued heartfelt thanks to Frank for his impact on the club he led to promotion in 2021. 'It has been a pleasure working alongside Thomas,' said Giles. 'From the moment he replaced Dean Smith, he understood what we were trying to build and his wisdom, coaching ability and emotional intelligence have helped transform the club. 'There have been so many special moments with Thomas and nobody will ever forget the day at Wembley for the play-off final or that emotional first Premier League game against Arsenal. 'But it's not just what you see on the pitch. He forged a special connection with our fans, helped develop and improve players, and was instrumental in implementing the culture that has seen Brentford go from strength to strength. 'However, just as when a player leaves, it provides an opportunity for someone else to come in and make their own impact. 'We will never forget Thomas, but now it is time to thank him and take the next steps in our journey with a new leader who we believe can be just as successful and influential.' Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy had identified 51-year-old Frank as the man he wanted before sacking Postecoglou last Friday and has spent most of this week negotiating compensation for Brentford for him and several of his coaching staff. Justin Cochrane will join Frank at Spurs although Brentford tried their utmost to keep him the 43-year-old, who spent nine years coaching career in Tottenham's academy. Cochrane, who joined the Bees three years ago from Manchester United is on Thomas Tuchel's England staff and so highly rated that Brentford considered him among the candidates for the head coach role. Also moving across London from the Getch Community Stadium are fitness coach Chris Haslam and analyst Joe Newton. Andreas Georgson will join the coaching team from Manchester United. Postecoglou's assistant coaches Mile Jedinak, Nick Montgomery and Sergio Raimundo have all left Spurs with Matt Wells and goalkeeping coach Rob Burch remaining. Postecoglou's success in delivering silverware, which he promised he would, means that the Dane will take charge of Tottenham in the Champions League, and he will want a squad that is able to compete at the top level. Reports had claimed Tottenham were looking to hijack Manchester United's push to sign Frank's golden boy Bryan Mbeumo from his now former club. However, sources have disclosed that Spurs are 'highly unlikely' to enter the race for the forward, who scored 20 goals in the Premier League last term. Last month, Mail Sport's Oliver Holt played a couple of sets of padel at Brentford's Osterley facility with Frank and assistant first-team coach Kevin O'Connor. During their day together, Frank explained what it takes to build a successful culture at a football club - like he has at Brentford and continue to improve it one step after another. 'We stand on the shoulders of others,' Frank told Mail Sport in an interview last month. 'And we build on foundations they have built for us. We need to acknowledge that every single time. 'It's all about the ego. So how fragile is it or how big is it? Some people need reassurance all the time and to say, 'The reason I'm so good is because of me and has nothing to do with these top players and good staff'. It depends who you are. 'So you need to believe in your own skill set, but be humble enough to know there's a lot of hard work and you're not the only one and all that. So I'm confident in myself and what I'm capable of doing. Also humble enough to know I can do nothing alone. No one can. 'Look, if you ask whether I'm tough, I think I'm extremely resilient. And I think we've all got a dark side. I've got five per cent dark side in me. Even my wife says that. 'You need that dark side, to have an edge and I have an edge. I'm extremely competitive, very determined, and you don't survive in this business if you're not tough.'
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Wimbledon increases winners' prize to $4.07M
June 13 - The All England Lawn Tennis Club, organizers of The Wimbledon Championships, announced Thursday that prize money for the players will increase seven percent in 2025 and reach a record $72.59 million -- twice the amount from a decade ago. Both the women's and men's single champions will earn $4.07 million, an 11.1 percent increase from a year ago. Opening round losers will take home nearly $90,000, a 10 percent jump from 2024. "This year's round-by-round breakdown shows our focus on both the early and late rounds of the draw, rewarding the successes of our champions, but also continuing to support the lower-ranked players," said Deborah Levans, chairwoman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The tournament gets underway on June 30 and concludes on July 13 in London. Reigning French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz will be attempting to defend his Wimbledon title, while Barbora Krejcikova returned from injury last month and will try to recapture her magical run of 2024. In other news from Wimbledon, officials announced that line judges will be replaced by electronic line judging for the first time in the Grand Slam event. Moreover, the singles finals will begin at 11 a.m. ET on July 12 (women's) and July 13 (men's), two hours later than in previous years. --Field Level Media
