Royal correspondent
PA MediaRugby league legend Billy Boston has acquired a knighthood from King Charles at Buckingham Palace, making him the game’s first knight in its 130-year historical past.
Sir Billy, 90, was awarded his knighthood early – earlier than the King’s birthday honours listing was formally introduced – due to considerations over his well being.
The honour follows rising frustration over the dearth of rugby league knighthoods or damehoods, with a gaggle of cross-party MPs suggesting it was linked to snobbery.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer mentioned it was a “historic incorrect” that no rugby league participant had acquired a knighthood till now.
PA Media“It’s a historic incorrect {that a} sport which is the spine of so many communities has waited so lengthy to obtain this honour,” Sir Keir mentioned.
“Boston is a legend of the sport who overcame prejudice to signify Nice Britain and opened the door to a extra various sport.”
Sir Billy’s spouse, Woman Joan, mentioned his household “are so pleased with him” and “excited that every little thing he is carried out for the game and for our group is being recognised”.
The Cardiff-born participant was one of many biggest stars of rugby league and a trailblazer for black sports activities stars when he performed for Wigan and Nice Britain within the Fifties and Nineteen Sixties.
Sir Billy, who has been residing with dementia, was accompanied on the Palace by his household and representatives of his former membership.
Wigan Warriors’ chairman Chris Brookes mentioned: “I’m completely delighted and so completely satisfied that Billy – and rugby league – has lastly acquired the final word recognition his stellar profession deserves.”
Sir Billy is among the sport’s legends, after successful three Problem Cups and scoring 24 tries in 31 appearances for Nice Britain. He has additionally been praised for serving to to open doorways for black gamers within the sport.
Brookes mentioned Sir Billy had scored 478 tries in 487 matches for the group – however had remained the “most modest of males” regardless that he was the “most revered participant of our great sport”.
The letter saying the knighthood was given to Sir Billy by Labour MP Josh Simons, who mentioned the rugby league was lastly “getting the popularity it deserves”.
The game’s governing physique, the Rugby Soccer League, had advised the BBC final month that its gamers had been “poorly handled” by the honours system.
The Speaker of the Home of Commons , Sir Lindsay Hoyle, joined protests over the dearth of knighthoods for rugby gamers, saying it “can’t be proper” when different sports activities, together with rugby union, have had such honours “fairly frequently”.
A cross-party group of MPs had claimed the dearth of knighthoods a “scandal” linked to snobbery and sophistication prejudice.
David Baines, chair of the all-party Parliamentary rugby league group, had mentioned he suspected it was as a result of “they arrive from working class backgrounds, did not go to the appropriate colleges, and did not combine in the appropriate social circles”.
A BBC evaluation earlier this 12 months revealed {that a} disproportionately low variety of prime honours, similar to knighthoods and damehoods, had been going to folks from the north of England and working class backgrounds – which overlaps with the rugby league heartlands.
It emerged final week that ex-footballer David Beckham is also set to receive a knighthood.
