Wigan bids farewell to Sir Billy Boston
Crowds lined Wigan's streets as Kris Radlinski led the funeral tribute to rugby league great Sir Billy Boston, who died last month aged 92.
Wigan came to a standstill on Thursday as crowds lined the streets for the funeral of Sir Billy Boston, rugby league's first knight, who died last month aged 92.
The cortege wound through the Greater Manchester town before the service on the pitch at the Brick Community Stadium. Wigan Warriors chief executive Kris Radlinski delivered the eulogy.
Boston was born in Cardiff and started out in rugby union before signing for Wigan in 1953. He scored 478 tries in 488 appearances for the club through the 1950s and 1960s, and finished his career with 571 tries in total — second on the all-time list behind Australia's Brian Bevan. In 1954 he became the first black player to tour Australia and New Zealand with a Great Britain side.
King Charles knighted Boston at Buckingham Palace in June 2025, making him the first rugby league player honoured that way in the sport's 130-year history.
Radlinski used the eulogy to announce that Wigan Council will rename the town's Believe Square as Sir Billy Boston Square.
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- Crowds line the streets of Wigan to say farewell to Sir Billy Boston independent.co.uk