'I watched rugby league hero be knighted - it was my proudest moment as MP'
Today, Billy Boston, a hero of rugby league, was knighted. Travelling to the Palace with Billy and his family, watching the joy on their faces as he became Sir Billy Boston, was my proudest moment as an MP.
This moment is about Billy - a kind and humble man, rugby league's greatest ever player, and an icon in our town.
But it's also about the sport and the North. Finally, rugby league has the recognition it deserves, after being discriminated against and belittled by the establishment for far too long. After 130 years of the sport, Sir Billy Boston is the first rugby league knight ever, following a great campaign nationally and locally.
Rugby League has always been a sport for working class people in Northern England, sidelined and often actively repressed by Rugby Union, led by middle and upper class people in the South.
Commentators have belittled it as a niche, 'northern sport', instead of recognising it as a global, multi-million pound game. It was banned in the British Army, and for decades, playing rugby league for a moment would get you a lifetime ban in rugby union. But today, its greatest player received the highest honour in the land.
Billy was born in Cardiff, and dreamed of playing for Cardiff and for Wales. But he was never selected because the Welsh rugby union discriminated against black people. When he travelled North, Wigan and rugby league welcomed him with open arms, a town and a sport that has always put talent before race, class or creed.
Today, the game is thriving. Wigan Warriors are entering a new era of professionalisation and deepening links with grassroots clubs and community organisations across the town. The Warriors are always well-attended and watched by fans across the world. This weekend, the women's team beat St Helens to win the Challenge Cup Final.
The Warriors, Wigan as a town, and Rugby League as a sport owe so much to Sir Billy Boston. Billy symbolises everything that I love about rugby league: power, humility, courage, loyalty. Today was a massive moment for the sport and for the North of England. I can't wait to see more players recognised in the future.
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