571 Tries Billy Boston statue in Wigan town centre, Greater Manchester, England, UK, wider view with Wigan Life Centre. RIP Sir Bill 24/08/2026

Sir Billy Boston's bronze statue in Believe Square, Wigan town centre, with the prominent inscription “571 Tries” on its base and Wigan Life Centre forming the backdrop. The number records one of the most extraordinary achievements in British rugby league history: Boston finished his professional career with 571 tries in 562 appearances, a British career record that underlined his reputation as one of the game's most devastating and prolific attacking players. The statue has particular poignancy following the death of Sir Billy Boston aged 92 in August 2026, bringing renewed attention to the remarkable statistics and sporting legacy represented by this Wigan landmark. Born William John Boston in Cardiff's Tiger Bay in 1934, he switched from rugby union to rugby league and signed for Wigan in 1953. During 15 seasons with the club he scored an exceptional 478 tries in 488 appearances, a scoring rate that helped make him one of the most celebrated players ever to wear the famous cherry and white jersey. Powerful, exceptionally quick and difficult to tackle, Boston combined physical strength with balance, acceleration and a natural instinct for finding the try line. His international career included Great Britain representation, the 1954 Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand and membership of the victorious Great Britain team at the 1960 Rugby League World Cup. His Wigan career brought three Challenge Cup victories and a league championship, while his influence extended far beyond trophies and statistics. As a prominent Black British sportsman during the 1950s and 1960s he became an important sporting pioneer at a time when racial prejudice remained widespread. Boston was appointed MBE in 1996 and in 2025 became the first rugby league player to receive a knighthood. The life-size statue, sculpted by Steve Winterburn and unveiled in 2016, depicts Boston carrying a rugby ball and striding confidently forward. Its conspicuous “571 Tries” inscription turns an extraordinar