Civic event for Wigan Warriors rugby league star Billy Boston

Prof Chris Brookes, chairman of Wigan Warriors, told BBC Radio Manchester: “There are now not many people who will remember seeing him play.

“No-one, though, will ever forget the contribution he made to the sport of rugby league.”

Leader of Wigan Council, David Molyneux, who also attended the event said Sir Billy is a “legend of rugby league”.

“The first knight of the sport. He made almost 500 appearances for Wigan in the 1950s and 1960s and scored tries at the rate of one a game – more than 570 by the end of his career.”