Wigan Warriors legend Billy Boston to be first rugby league player knighted
For the first time in rugby league's 130 year history one of its greatest players will be knighted. Wigan Warriors legend Billy Boston will become the first person from his sport to be presented with a knighthood at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
The 90-year-old, who was born in Wales, played on the wing at Wigan for 15 years after making the switch from rugby union to rugby league in 1953. He went on to score a record 478 tries in 487 games for the club winning the Challenge Cup three times as well as the Championship.
Boston also had an impressive record for Great Britain scoring 24 tries in 31 test matches and in 1954 became the first non-white player selected to tour Australia and New Zealand.
In 2000, he was given the freedom of Wigan and has three statues, in Wigan, Wales and at Wembley Stadium.
Boston was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth and now after a campaign led by his local Makerfield MP Josh Simons, he will be made a knight of the realm by King Charles.
Wigan Warriors owner Mike Danson told the club's website: 'One of the biggest thrills in my ownership of Wigan Rugby League Club has been enjoying the company of Billy Boston. Without doubt Billy was a player who was – and still is – the biggest crowd favourite in Rugby League.
'He is my mum Jean's favourite player – they are of the same age! She remains in awe of the great man and his Rugby League legacy.
'I am therefore thrilled that at long last, Billy will be appointed as Rugby League's first Knight! A richly deserved honour which means this most humble of men, rightly receives at last, fitting recognition for his extraordinary efforts. Many congratulations to Billy, his wife Joan and the family on this magnificent achievement.'
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Glasgow Times
36 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Billy Boston to become rugby league's first knight
Cardiff-born Boston, 90, blazed a trail for black sports stars during the 1950s and 1960s, making 488 appearances for Wigan and finishing his career with a British record 571 tries to his name. He also became the first non-white player to represent Great Britain on a Lions tour in 1954, scoring 36 tries in 18 appearances in Australia and New Zealand, and featuring in a total of 31 international Test matches. 🫡 Arise Sir Billy Boston! 👏 Officially Rugby League's first Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire… — Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) June 9, 2025 Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'Billy Boston's knighthood is a historic milestone providing fitting recognition for the greatest player rugby league has ever seen. 'As MP for Wigan, this is a proud day for our town, for the Welsh nation, for rugby league fans across the country and, most importantly, for Billy and his family. 'The first knighthood for a rugby league player is long overdue recognition for a game that has contributed so much to our national life. This is the moment we right a historic wrong.' 👏 Everybody at Wigan Warriors is filled with joy that Billy Boston will be made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). Congratulations, Sir William John Boston KBE.#WWRL — Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) June 9, 2025 Boston made a try-scoring debut for Wigan against Barrow in November 1953, and by the time he left the club in 1968, he had played in six Challenge Cup finals at Wembley, featuring on the winning side in 1958, 1959 and 1965. Wigan owner Mike Danson said he was 'thrilled' by Boston's award, describing it as 'a richly deserved honour which means this most humble of men rightly receives, at last, fitting recognition for his extraordinary efforts'. Boston's honour followed a sustained campaign by local councillors and MPs as well as leading figures in the sport, who have frequently pointed out the relative lack of recognition for rugby league compared to union, which has seen 20 knights anointed. Billy Boston (front row, far left) featured in six Challenge Cup finals with Wigan (PA Archive) Rugby Football League chief executive Tony Sutton said: 'On behalf of the Rugby Football League, and the sport of rugby league, it is a privilege to congratulate Sir Billy Boston on his knighthood. 'Sir Billy deserves to be recognised as an iconic figure in the history of British sport, for the way he overcame prejudice in his journey from working-class Cardiff to legendary status in Wigan, and became the most prolific British try-scorer in the 130-year history of rugby league.' The full King's Birthday Honours list is set to be announced later this week. It is understood Boston's award was brought forward due to concerns about his health.
South Wales Argus
37 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Billy Boston to become rugby league's first knight
Cardiff-born Boston, 90, blazed a trail for black sports stars during the 1950s and 1960s, making 488 appearances for Wigan and finishing his career with a British record 571 tries to his name. He also became the first non-white player to represent Great Britain on a Lions tour in 1954, scoring 36 tries in 18 appearances in Australia and New Zealand, and featuring in a total of 31 international Test matches. 🫡 Arise Sir Billy Boston! 👏 Officially Rugby League's first Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire… — Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) June 9, 2025 Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'Billy Boston's knighthood is a historic milestone providing fitting recognition for the greatest player rugby league has ever seen. 'As MP for Wigan, this is a proud day for our town, for the Welsh nation, for rugby league fans across the country and, most importantly, for Billy and his family. 'The first knighthood for a rugby league player is long overdue recognition for a game that has contributed so much to our national life. This is the moment we right a historic wrong.' 👏 Everybody at Wigan Warriors is filled with joy that Billy Boston will be made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). Congratulations, Sir William John Boston KBE.#WWRL — Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) June 9, 2025 Boston made a try-scoring debut for Wigan against Barrow in November 1953, and by the time he left the club in 1968, he had played in six Challenge Cup finals at Wembley, featuring on the winning side in 1958, 1959 and 1965. Wigan owner Mike Danson said he was 'thrilled' by Boston's award, describing it as 'a richly deserved honour which means this most humble of men rightly receives, at last, fitting recognition for his extraordinary efforts'. Boston's honour followed a sustained campaign by local councillors and MPs as well as leading figures in the sport, who have frequently pointed out the relative lack of recognition for rugby league compared to union, which has seen 20 knights anointed. Billy Boston (front row, far left) featured in six Challenge Cup finals with Wigan (PA Archive) Rugby Football League chief executive Tony Sutton said: 'On behalf of the Rugby Football League, and the sport of rugby league, it is a privilege to congratulate Sir Billy Boston on his knighthood. 'Sir Billy deserves to be recognised as an iconic figure in the history of British sport, for the way he overcame prejudice in his journey from working-class Cardiff to legendary status in Wigan, and became the most prolific British try-scorer in the 130-year history of rugby league.' The full King's Birthday Honours list is set to be announced later this week. It is understood Boston's award was brought forward due to concerns about his health.
Rhyl Journal
37 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Billy Boston to become rugby league's first knight
Cardiff-born Boston, 90, blazed a trail for black sports stars during the 1950s and 1960s, making 488 appearances for Wigan and finishing his career with a British record 571 tries to his name. He also became the first non-white player to represent Great Britain on a Lions tour in 1954, scoring 36 tries in 18 appearances in Australia and New Zealand, and featuring in a total of 31 international Test matches. 🫡 Arise Sir Billy Boston! 👏 Officially Rugby League's first Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire… — Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) June 9, 2025 Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'Billy Boston's knighthood is a historic milestone providing fitting recognition for the greatest player rugby league has ever seen. 'As MP for Wigan, this is a proud day for our town, for the Welsh nation, for rugby league fans across the country and, most importantly, for Billy and his family. 'The first knighthood for a rugby league player is long overdue recognition for a game that has contributed so much to our national life. This is the moment we right a historic wrong.' 👏 Everybody at Wigan Warriors is filled with joy that Billy Boston will be made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). Congratulations, Sir William John Boston KBE.#WWRL — Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) June 9, 2025 Boston made a try-scoring debut for Wigan against Barrow in November 1953, and by the time he left the club in 1968, he had played in six Challenge Cup finals at Wembley, featuring on the winning side in 1958, 1959 and 1965. Wigan owner Mike Danson said he was 'thrilled' by Boston's award, describing it as 'a richly deserved honour which means this most humble of men rightly receives, at last, fitting recognition for his extraordinary efforts'. Boston's honour followed a sustained campaign by local councillors and MPs as well as leading figures in the sport, who have frequently pointed out the relative lack of recognition for rugby league compared to union, which has seen 20 knights anointed. Rugby Football League chief executive Tony Sutton said: 'On behalf of the Rugby Football League, and the sport of rugby league, it is a privilege to congratulate Sir Billy Boston on his knighthood. 'Sir Billy deserves to be recognised as an iconic figure in the history of British sport, for the way he overcame prejudice in his journey from working-class Cardiff to legendary status in Wigan, and became the most prolific British try-scorer in the 130-year history of rugby league.' The full King's Birthday Honours list is set to be announced later this week. It is understood Boston's award was brought forward due to concerns about his health.
