The prime minister, Andy Burnham, said he is “heartbroken” by the passing of Sir Billy Boston as he lead tributes to the rugby league icon following his death.
Boston passed away on Tuesday at the age of 92. He was one of the sport’s all-time great players, scoring almost 500 tries during an illustrious career for Wigan Warriors and Great Britain, eventually becoming the first man in rugby league history to be knighted for his services to the game last year.
His death comes just four days after the funeral of his wife of over 70 years, Lady Joan Boston, who herself only passed away last month. Burnham, a lifelong rugby league supporter, who also served as president of the RFL, described Boston as a “giant of a man in every way”.
“Heartbroken to hear my friend Sir Billy Boston has died,” he wrote on Tuesday. “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.
“He always had time for people and gave so much to back to his adopted home, Wigan. I will miss him greatly and am thinking today of Billy’s family, still grieving the recent loss of his beloved wife Joan. A giant of a man in every way. Thank you, Billy, and rest in peace.”
Boston joined Wigan in 1953 after starting his rugby career in his native Wales. He would go on to score 478 tries in 488 games for the club, winning a plethora of honours for club and country. Only one man, the Warrington winger Brian Bevan, has more tries in the history of the sport than Boston.
Less than a year after leaving Wales to begin a career in league, Boston became the first non-white player to be selected for Great Britain. He scored 36 tries in 18 games on that tour to Australia and New Zealand in 1954, and was part of the Lions’ World Cup-winning squad of 1960.
He was awarded an MBE in 1996 but, last year, he created history after becoming the first rugby league player to be knighted for services to the sport. That accolade was met with emotional celebrations in Wigan, the town he remained in after retirement where one of three statues – alongside Wembley and Cardiff – stands featuring Boston, which underlines his life and career.
The Warriors are planning for an emotional occasion on Thursday evening when they host Hull KR in Super League, with a series of tributes planned to celebrate the life of Boston. Their head coach, Matt Peet, himself paid an emotional tribute on Tuesday while conducting his pre-match press duties.
“It’s like he was on a different planet, really,” Peet said of Boston’s career. “I wish I could see more of him. I’ve seen bits of footage, but I think it’s more the legend when people talk about him in terms of the stories and players that played against him, players that played with him. It’s going to be a real tribute night on Thursday.
“Obviously, people are very upset and rightly so, but you’ve got to celebrate a life well lived. Everything that Billy represented and stood for. We have a responsibility to uphold the whole history of the club when you work at a club like this, but I think Billy’s top of the tree in terms of standing in the club’s history.”
“Today we mourn one of our greatest ever Warriors and rugby league’s first knight,” the Wigan CEO, Kris Radlinski, said. “Time moves on, as it must, but some names endure. Billy Boston will always be one of them. His place in the history of Wigan, and in the history of Rugby League, is secure forever.
“I visited him on Sunday morning with Mandy, held his hand and told him we loved him. Rest in peace, Billy. My friend, our Warrior and a true Wigan legend.” Eamonn McManus, the chairman of Wigan’s biggest rivals, St Helens, described Boston as a “giant amongst giants”.
“Sir Billy Boston was more than an all-time great of the sport of rugby league. His name both symbolised and transcended it. He was one of the greats for both Wigan and Great Britain in the golden era of our sport in the 1950s and 60s. He was a giant amongst giants,” said McManus.
“He led and epitomised our sport’s and our communities’ pioneering example in breaking down racial barriers in this country and he should be remembered always for that. Although deeply saddened by his passing we should in equal measure celebrate his unparalleled contribution to our sport and to our society.”
