00:00A rugby legend has finally received one of the country's highest honours in what many are calling a long overdue moment for the sport.
00:11Billy Boston, one of the greatest tri-scorers in rugby league history, has been knighted by the king in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace, making him the first rugby league player ever to receive a knighthood.
00:24Sir Billy, now 90, played nearly 500 matches for Wigan after switching from rugby union in the 50s.
00:29He still holds the club's all-time tri-scoring record with 478 tries in 488 games.
00:35Born in Cardiff, Sir Billy was also a pioneer off the pitch.
00:38In 1954, he became the first non-white player to tour with the Great Britain Rugby League team, scoring 36 tries on that tour alone.
00:45He would go on to score 24 tries in 31 test matches, a remarkable career at a time when players of colour often faced open hostility and discrimination.
00:53The knighthood comes after years of campaigning from counsellors, MPs and rugby league players, many of whom said it's recognition that should have come sooner.
01:02His son Stephen echoed those thoughts, saying,
01:04It's really a great honour. I think it's come a little bit late.
01:09Prime Minister Sakia Starmer called it a historic wrong that no rugby league player had been knighted until now, adding that Billy Boston helped make the sport more inclusive and inspired generations of players.
01:18Despite now living with vascular dementia, Sir Billy was able to attend the ceremony and celebrate with his family.
01:27His story as a trailblazer from Cardiff who broke the barriers and rewrote records is being hailed as a fitting first for the rugby league,
01:34and many are now calling for further recognition for other legends of the game following in his footsteps.
01:40David Watkins reported for Local TV.
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