Human Rights, Justice & Society
Billy Boston, Welsh rugby league great, dies at 92
Sir Billy Boston, the Welsh rugby league great who became the first rugby league player to receive a knighthood, has died aged 92, Wales Rugby League, Wigan Warriors and the Welsh Rugby Union said on Tuesday.
Wales Rugby League said Boston died in hospital just before midnight on 24 August, four days after the funeral of his wife, Lady Joan, to whom he had been married for 70 years.
Born in Cardiff, Boston grew up playing rugby union before switching codes to join Wigan in 1953, aged 19. He scored 478 tries in 488 appearances for the club during the 1950s and 1960s and became one of rugby league's greatest players and a trailblazer for Black sportsmen.
King Charles III knighted Boston at a ceremony in June 2025 after a campaign led by local politicians and senior rugby league figures.
Wigan described Boston as a living legend from his 15 seasons with the club. The Welsh Rugby Union called him one of the best-loved and most iconic figures in Welsh sport.
Andy Burnham, described as an avid rugby league fan, paid tribute on X, saying he was heartbroken to hear his friend had died and was thinking of Boston's family after the recent death of Lady Joan.
Update
Wales Rugby League and Wigan Warriors also confirmed Boston's death.
Wales Rugby League said Boston died in hospital just before midnight on 24 August.
Wales Rugby League chairman James Davies paid tribute to Boston and offered condolences to his family and friends.
Wigan described Boston as a living legend from his 15 seasons with the club.
The Welsh Rugby Union described Boston as one of the best-loved and most iconic figures in Welsh sport.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 16:40:00 UTC.
Update
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham paid tribute to Billy Boston on X, saying he was heartbroken by Boston's death.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 13:57:40 UTC.
Source
AFP news report published on .