Wigan Rugby League Club paid an emotional tribute to Sir Billy Boston before their Betfred Super League match against Hull KR at the Brick Community Stadium on Thursday night. Sir Billy, rugby league's first knight, died on Tuesday morning at the age of 92, just four days after the funeral of his wife, Lady Joan.
Boston's son, Stephen, carried a Wigan shirt bearing his father's name onto the halfway line and placed it on the same throne Boston had used when the club celebrated his knighthood last July. Two seats in the directors' box were left vacant in tribute to Boston and his wife, and the home team warmed up in black tee-shirts emblazoned with his number two.
A minute's silence was observed before the game. Wigan head coach Matt Peet stated, "I think the legend of Billy Boston that has rubbed off on us all is that he was an entertainer, he was a tough team-mate and he was humble, so it’s our job to carry that through on a daily basis." Hull KR head coach Willie Peters, a former Wigan player, also sent condolences to Boston's family.
Boston, widely considered one of the greatest players in rugby league history, scored 478 tries in 488 appearances for Wigan during the 1950s and 1960s after switching codes to join the club in 1953.