The Welsh Rugby Union has paid tribute to Sir Billy Boston.
The 90-year-old rugby legend was awarded a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours, becoming the first player from the rugby league code to receive the honour.
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Born in Cardiff’s Tiger Bay, Sir Billy was also a pioneer in rugby union, becoming the first black player to represent Wales in a representative side.
Abi Tierney, chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), said: “The WRU is delighted to join in the celebrations of the honour bestowed on Sir Billy Boston.
“His playing achievements in rugby league speak for themselves and he was a hugely promising rugby union player in his youth.
“He has been a magnificent ambassador for both his sport, his ‘home’ city of Cardiff and for his adopted home of Wigan.
“He was a trailblazer in his day and remains one of the greatest names in Welsh sporting history.”
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Sir Billy’s rugby journey began at Cardiff Schools U15, where he won the Dewar Shield in 1949.
The team included future Wales captain Lloyd Williams and heavyweight boxing champion Joe Erskine.
At 17, he captained the Boys Clubs of Wales in a 32-0 win over England in February 1952, scoring 17 points, including a hat-trick of tries.
He later played for Neath and Pontypridd before beginning his national service.
In March 1952, he was capped by the Wales Youth team and became the first black player to represent Wales at any level in rugby union.
Despite never playing for Cardiff’s senior side, Sir Billy’s talent drew attention.
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After a standout performance for the Cardiff & District XV against Cardiff, Western Mail journalist JBG Thomas wrote: “The District had a splendid centre in W Boston, who should be in the Cardiff Athletic XV.”
Instead, Sir Billy turned professional at 18, signing a £3,000 contract with Wigan on March 13, 1953.
During national service at Catterick, he starred for the Royal Signals XV, scoring six tries in the 1953 Army Cup Final and four in the Army’s 1954 win over the Territorial Army.
Rugby writer Pat Marshall of the Daily Express wrote at the time: “If he had not signed professional forms he must have been in the current Welsh Rugby Union side.
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“Quite simply, he is one of the greatest running back I have seen.”
Sir Billy made his Wigan first team debut on November 21, 1953, against Barrow, scoring the first of his 478 tries in 488 appearances for the club.
He went on to score two tries in his second game, three in his third, and four in his fourth.
In 1954, he became the youngest player to tour Australia with Great Britain, scoring 36 tries in 18 games, including seven hat-tricks.
He also became the first black player to tour Australasia with the team.
Sir Billy remains a towering figure in the sport, inducted into the British Rugby League Hall of Fame, the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame, and the Wigan Warriors Hall of Fame.
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He was made an MBE in 1996 for services to the community in Wigan.
Statues in his honour stand at Wembley, Wigan, and Cardiff Bay.
He twice topped the rugby league try-scoring charts, scoring 60 tries in the 1956-57 season.
Sir Billy won the Challenge Cup three times, and in the 1960 Championship final, scored twice to help Wigan secure their first title in eight years.
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