Sir Billy Boston, the rugby league icon and one of the greatest try-scorers in the history of British rugby, has died at the age of 92. He is commemorated in bronze in his hometown of Cardiff, his adopted Wigan, and outside Wembley Stadium.
Remarkable try-scoring record
His league career saw him score 571 tries in 562 first-class matches, including 478 tries in 487 games for Wigan. He also won the Rugby League World Cup with Great Britain in 1960, as well as three Challenge Cups, and played 31 times for the Lions.
Sir Billy, who became rugby league's first knight of the realm last year, was a trailblazer for black sports stars. However, it was alleged racial prejudice that ultimately stopped him from continuing his career in Wales and playing for the national side.
Career in Wales
Before switching codes in 1953, the Tiger Bay-born star had pursued a career in rugby union, representing both Neath and Pontypridd. Sir Billy later admitted that he wanted to play for Wales "with all his heart", but his hometown club Cardiff RFC showed no interest in signing him, having also snubbed other black and mixed race players like Johnny Freeman and Colin Dixon.
Rugby historian Professor Tony Collins previously told the BBC: "The reality was it was unlikely [Boston] was going to play for the national side. It was an open secret that he may have been a great rugby player, but there was no way he was going to play for Wales. There was an undertone of racism that made these players immediately look to go north."
Legacy and recognition
In 2023, Sir Billy opened up on his heartbreak at never representing Wales, telling ITV: "I used to catch the bus from Cardiff's ground to play for Neath. Cardiff didn't want to know. I wanted to play for Wales with all my heart. But it wasn't to be."
His wife Joan, who also passed away last month, said at the time that being known in Wales was "the one thing in his life he wanted", while his daughters Christine Davies and Lisa Parr said he was "gutted" to leave his country as he was a "proud Welshman".
Seven decades on from Sir Billy leaving Wales, his achievements were officially acknowledged back home three years ago, as a statue featuring him and his fellow trailblazing 'Codebreakers' Clive Sullivan and Gus Risman was unveiled in Mermaid Quay. The bronze depiction of the three men was the first statue in Wales to feature non-fictionalised, named black men.
