THE late Sir Billy Boston will be commemorated in the town where he became a Rugby League legend by the renaming of the square where his statue is situated.

Fans lined the streets to pay their respects on Thursday as his funeral cortege made its way to Wigan Warriors’ The Brick Community Stadium, where the service took place. It was followed by a private burial. 

Cardiff-born former Great Britain international Sir Billy, the first player in Rugby League’s 130-year history to receive a knighthood, died last month aged 92.

The winger flourished in the 13-a-side code after facing prejudice in rugby union due to his ethnicity (his father was from Sierra Leone and his mother from Cardiff’s Irish community).

The first Black player to represent Great Britain on a Lions tour, he scored 571 career tries, 478 of them in 488 games for Wigan, then based at Central Park, between 1953 and 1968.

His statue in Wigan, which depicts him charging forward with a ball under his arm, was officially unveiled ten years ago.

Sculpted by artist Steve Winterburn, the ten-foot bronze monument was placed in Believe Square on The Wiend next to Wigan Town Hall.

Now it will be called Sir Billy Boston Square “to ensure his legacy continues” in the heart of the town, Wigan Council have announced.

In March, a civic service was held to mark a new plaque being added to his statue following his knighthood in 2025.

Wigan Council leader Nazia Rehman called Sir Billy “more than a sporting legend”, adding: “He was a pioneer, an inspiration and someone who brought immense pride to the borough.”

She added: “We want to ensure his legacy continues to be honoured in the heart of our town. That’s why we are renaming Believe Square as Sir Billy Boston Square.”

Warriors chief executive Kris Radlinski said: “For generations, people will pass though the square, people who never had the privilege to see Billy play will see his name and ask who he was, and another generation will tell his story.”

Sir Billy also features in statues in Cardiff and at Wembley Stadium in London.