Legendary rugby league winger Boston dies aged 92
Summary
Sir Billy Boston, a legendary rugby league winger, has died at the age of 92. He was the first rugby league player to receive a knighthood and scored an extraordinary 478 tries in 488 games for Wigan.Key Facts
- Sir Billy Boston was born in Cardiff in 1934 and started playing rugby union before switching to rugby league.
- He signed for Wigan in 1953 at the age of 19 and quickly became a top player.
- Boston was the first black British player to tour Australia and New Zealand with the Great Britain rugby league team in 1954.
- He scored 478 tries in 488 games for Wigan, helping the team win three Challenge Cups and Championships.
- Boston scored 24 tries in 31 games for Great Britain and contributed to their 1960 Rugby League World Cup win.
- In total, he scored 571 tries in his career, one of the highest totals in rugby league history.
- After retiring, Boston ran a hotel near Wigan’s stadium and received many honors, including an MBE, the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame, and a knighthood in 2025.
- He is remembered with statues in Wigan, Cardiff, and at Wembley Stadium, and was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame.
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