William John Boston, MBE (born 6 August 1934) is a Welsh former professional rugby league footballer who played as a wing or centre.
[3] Regarded as one of the sport's greatest ever players, Boston scored a total of 571 tries in his career, making him the second-highest try scorer in rugby league history.
CIACS (pronounced "kayaks") represented Grangetown, Cardiff Bay, Butetown and the Docks areas of the city, and the team's makeup reflected the multinational nature of those communities.
As Cardiff passed on other black and mixed race players from CIACs and the docks area (like Johnny Freeman and Colin Dixon, who both had successful rugby league careers), it has been suggested that the club had an issue with racism.
[8] Boston was called up for National Service with the Royal Signals at Catterick, North Yorkshire, and was scouted by a number of Rugby League clubs.
On 13 March 1953 Wigan chairman Joe Taylor and vice-chairman Billy Gore travelled to Boston's home in Cardiff and offered him £1,000 to sign for them.
Billy Boston played stand-off in Wigan's 8–13 defeat by Oldham in the 1957–58 Lancashire Cup Final during the at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 19 October 1957.
Boston had an astonishing turn of speed for a big man and had the ultimate side step and was also able to hand off opponents with apparent ease.
[16] Billy Boston played on the wing and scored a try in Wigan's 16–13 victory over Oldham in the 1957–58 Lancashire Cup Final at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 29 October 1966.
In December 2020 Boston was named as one of three Welsh rugby league players to be honoured with a new statue in Cardiff Bay, the other two being Gus Risman and Clive Sullivan.