Rugby league star Sir Billy Boston's knighthood ‘a little bit late', says son
'Trailblazing' rugby league star Sir Billy Boston's honour came 'a little bit late', his son said, as his father became a knight in a first for the sport.
Sir Billy, who scored 478 tries in 488 matches for Wigan after making the switch from rugby union in 1953, was knighted by the King in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
The 90-year-old, who was born in Wales, revealed in 2016 that he was living with vascular dementia.
Speaking after his father was knighted, Sir Billy's son Stephen said: 'It's a really great honour. I think it has come a little bit late. It could have come a little bit earlier.'
Sir Billy's knighthood was awarded before the latest round of honours has been publicly announced, amid concerns for his health.
It comes after a campaign by local councillors, MPs and leading figures in the sport to get him honoured – and Sir Billy's family were supported by Josh Simons, the MP for Wakerfield, near Wigan, at the event.
'It should have been a lot, a lot sooner,' Sir Billy's son told the PA news agency. '130 years before a rugby league player got knighted.
'We're all really appreciative, and very appreciative of all the support we've got from Wigan, the rugby league club, the local MP and all the fans.'
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it was an 'historic wrong' that no rugby league player had been knighted before.
He said: 'Billy Boston is a true trailblazer who has contributed hugely to rugby league. It is a historic wrong that a sport which is the backbone of so many communities has waited so long to receive this honour.
'Boston is a legend of the game who overcame prejudice to represent Great Britain and opened the door to a more diverse game.
'He's left a truly enduring legacy and the first knighthood in rugby league could not go to a more deserving player.'
It is understood the Prime Minister has written to Sir Billy to congratulate him on the honour.
In 1954, he made history as the first non-white player to be selected for a Great Britain rugby league Lions tour, scoring 36 tries in 18 appearances around Australia and New Zealand, including a then-record four in one match against the Kiwis.
He made two more Lions tours in 1958 and 1962 and ended with 24 tries in 31 Test appearances for Great Britain.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
13 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Gareth Bale consortium in bid to buy Cardiff
The 35-year-old former Real Madrid and Wales forward was understood to be part of a consortium that had conversations regarding a takeover of Plymouth earlier this week, along with several other clubs, but it appears they have now turned their attention to south Wales. The Athletic reports that the consortium sent current Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan a letter of intent last month, which included financial figures, but it was rejected. Bale is seeking to be the latest big sporting name to be associated with an EFL club. A general view of Cardiff City Stadium (Nigel French/PA) His former Real team-mate Luka Modric became an investor in and co-owner of Championship side Swansea in April, while ex-NFL quarterback Tom Brady has a minority stake in Birmingham. Cardiff declined to comment on Friday night. Bale retired from football in January 2023 at the age of 33. He won five Champions League titles with Real and is the men's all-time record goalscorer for Wales with 41 in 111 caps. He was linked with an emotional move to Cardiff, his hometown club, after leaving Madrid in 2022 but instead joined MLS side LAFC. Bale featured for Wales at the 2022 World Cup – their first appearance at the global finals since 1958 – and at the Euros in 2016 and 2020. Cardiff were relegated to League One last season and appointed Brian Barry-Murphy as their new manager this week.
Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The secrets of Nottinghamshire's remarkable rise: How an injection of youth, clever recruitment and the evolution of Haseeb Hameed has helped charge to County Championship summit
Halfway up the hill, Nottinghamshire are looking down on the rest of the County Championship. As first-class action returns to domestic cricket this weekend, even their most fervent fans would be forgiven for thinking the Division One table has been turned upside down.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
'Nearly a dream', Argentina's Contepomi basks in unique Lions win
DUBLIN, June 20 (Reuters) - Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi knew just how special and potentially unique Friday's victory over the British and Irish Lions was, having gone agonisingly close as a player two decades ago. Contepomi was captain when the sides last met before the Lions' 2005 tour of New Zealand, when the Pumas were a Johnny Wilkinson stoppage time penalty away from a first ever victory in the fixture. That game ended in a 25-25 draw, and Friday's contest was just Argentina's second shot at the Lions in almost a century. Their first six meetings were played during tours of Argentina when the Lions did not limit their itinerary to New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. Contepomi said they could not be sure when they would get the opportunity again. "It's kind of a one-off. It's an invitation game and the last time, it was 20 years ago, and we were just there and we couldn't beat them," Contepomi told a press conference. "Coming here 20 years later I think it's incredible. We don't know if we'll ever again be invited or not to play and definitely for everyone who's been involved this week it will be memorable." "It is special. I know how special it is for an Irish, a Scottish, a Welsh or an English player to be a Lion, and for us to play against the best of the best in these islands, it's nearly a dream." The former Argentina flyhalf, who knows British and Irish rugby well, having spent six seasons with Leinster and worked as a doctor during his time in Ireland, said he expected Australia to face a far more ferocious set of Lions next month. "We took a bit of an opportunity because I know they'll be much better in one month's time when they play Australia. They'll be an awesome team, because they have so much quality in there," he said.
