Five more rugby league icons who should be knighted following Billy Boston’s landmark honour

Wigan, Wales and Great Britain legend Billy Boston’s knighthood in the King’s birthday honours is an iconic moment for rugby league.

Incredibly, the 90-year-old is the first man to be knighted for services to rugby league in the sport’s 130-year history.

That long wait was described as a “scandal” by St Helens North MP David Baines, who is chairman of rugby league’s All-Party Parliamentary Group. And to be honest, we at Serious About Rugby League totally agree.

Snobbery against the code, because of its working class, northern roots, meant it was snubbed when many other sports have been honoured.

Hopefully Sir Billy will become a trend setter. It’s certainly not as if rugby league doesn’t have individuals worthy of following suit. Here’s five others we think deserve honouring for services to rugby league.

Who could be the next rugby league icon to be knighted?

Neil Fox MBE

The greatest points scorer in rugby league’s history, with a staggering 6,220. Now 86, he was born in Sharlston and signed for Wakefield Trinity aged 16, making his debut in 1956. The last of his 828 career appearances – a total only two men have beaten – was for Bradford Northern in 1979. His total of 2,575 goals is the second-most by a rugby league player and he was capped 29 times for Great Britain.

Ray French MBE

The dual-code international’s commentaries for the BBC may have divided opinion, but French’s contribution to the sport at various levels is enormous. The 85-year-old was capped four times by England in rugby union before switching codes to join St Helens and going on to collect Championship and Challenge Cup winner’s medals, as well as play for Great Britain. A Leeds University graduate, he was involved in the early days of student rugby league and – after playing for Widnes in the later part of his career – spent 37 years as the voice of the sport on BBC radio and television.

Ellery Hanley MBE

Hanley, 64, was the greatest English rugby league player of the 1980s and 90s and a leading light of the peerless Wigan side which dominated the game. A three-time Man of Steel, he won the Golden Boot – as the world’s best player – and is a member of rugby league’s Hall of Fame. Capped 36 times by Great Britain, he also starred in the Australian club competition and went on to win a Grand Final as coach of St Helens. In 1994 he became the first black person to coach a Great Britain team in any major sport.

Alex Murphy OBE

Among the greatest – and most  controversial – half-backs of all-time, Murphy, now 86, was a World Cup winner in 1960, featured in three victorious Ashes series for Great Britain and had a hugely successful playing career with St Helens, Leigh and Warrington. Also one of the top coaches of his era, he was nationally known through his role as a co-commentator on big games for the BBC.

Kevin Sinfield MBE OBE CBE

Already known as ‘Sir Kev’ by Leeds Rhinos fans, Sinfield was a seven-time Grand Final-winning captain, also skippered England and had a spell as an administrator with the RFL and his former club before switching codes. He is the highest goals- and points-scorer of the Super League era and since hanging up his boots has become a nationally known and admired figure because of his gruelling annual challenges to raise money for MND causes.

👏 The Rugby Football League today congratulates Billy Boston following the news that he is to be made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE), and become Sir William John Boston KBE…

— Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) June 9, 2025