Sir Billy Boston dies aged 92

Growing up in Leigh, I was taught early by family to have zero time for Wigan RLFC and anything associated with them. However that rule didn't apply to Billy Boston, who was spoken of with reverential tones by my elder relatives. My grandad spoke of the power and speed, alloyed with his class. 1/

🗣️ PM Andy Burnham: "Heartbroken to hear my friend Sir Billy Boston has died. Billy was one of the greatest Rugby League players of all time but also one of the kindest and most down-to-earth people you could ever wish to meet."

RIP to the finest Welsh winger ever to pick up an oval ball, Sir Billy Boston

Un o chwaraewyr chwedlonol Wigan a mor falch o’i wreiddiau Caerdydd.Fel chwaraewr BME rodd yn ysbrydoliaeth i eraill / One of Wigan’s legendary players & so proud of his Cardiff roots.As a BME player he was an inspiration to others. Diolch Billy 👏😢🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏉 #RIPBillyBoston www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...

Very sad news, but what a life to have lived! While his non-selection at Cardiff is undoubtedly a stain upon the club's history, Boston's achievements make him one of the city's greatest ever exports. Cysgu'n dawel, Billy. www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/...

I’ve just seen the awful news that Sir Billy Boston has died. He overcame racism and prejudice against rugby league to become the greatest of them all & to score hundreds of tries at Wigan & for Great Britain with incredible speed & agility. Wiganers will never forget him. RIP Billy.

It's a great shame that we have so little video evidence of Billy Boston playing rugby to enable modern fans to fully appreciate how good he was. But even in the snippets we have, it's abundantly clear that he was an entirely different calibre of winger than Wales had ever seen before or since.

BBC News - Billy Boston: Legendary Wigan, Wales and GB winger dies aged 92 - BBC Sport www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...

Sir Billy Boston was one of the greatest wingers the game has ever seen. At just 19 he “Went North” when it became clear he wouldn’t be accepted in Welsh rugby due to the colour of his skin. In Wigan he became a legend. Rest in Peace Sir Billy.

A true great, treated appallingly by the Union game. For reasons easy enough to work out Rugby league legend Sir Billy Boston dies aged 92 www.thetimes.com/article/90a2...

Prime Minister Andy Burnham led the tributes to Sir Billy Boston, rugby league’s first knight, who has died at the age of 92

I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Sir Billy Boston. Sir Billy’s name was synonymous with the sport of rugby league and he was a true legend of the game.

Happy "Welsh rugby union pretending it didn't spend decades cutting players who went north off from their friends and former teammates, while turning a blind eye to shamateurism in their own ranks Day" RIP Sir Billy Boston

Childhood memories. Saints v Wigan. Every Good Friday for 100 years. Knowsley Road or Central Park. Tom Van Vollenhoven for us, Billy Boston for them. Two absolute legends. Sorry I called you so many names, Mr. B, but you shouldn’t have scored against us so often. RIP.

Rugby League has produced some big names over the years, but ‘legends’ are hard to come by. Billy Boston was the best of them. First RL player to get a knighthood, 478 tries for Wigan. And a thoroughly decent bloke. The tributes are quite rightly coming in thick and fast today. RIP, Sir Billy.