Billy Boston to become rugby league’s first knight
Written by Black Hot Fire Network on June 10, 2025
Billy Boston will receive rugby league’s first knighthood in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
Cardiff-born Boston, 90, blazed a trail for black sports stars during the 1950s and 1960s, making 488 appearances for Wigan and finishing his career with a British record 571 tries to his name.
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He also became the first non-white player to represent Great Britain on a Lions tour in 1954, scoring 36 tries in 18 appearances in Australia and New Zealand, and featuring in a total of 31 international Test matches.
