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After a long campaign, a giant statue was unveiled of three Welsh rugby heroes: Billy Boston, Clive Sullivan, and Gus Risman. These three were known as the codebreakers. Boston, Sullivan, and Risman left Cardiff to make their names as professional rugby players in the north of England at a time when Black players were ostracized by the amateur union code in Wales. Xcellence Magazine was there at the unveiling of the statue at Cardiff Bay to witness the reactions of the crowd and what it means to the friends and family who witnessed the statues' unveiling.
More than 150 people gathered to witness the unveiling of the statue of the codebreakers, including family, friends, members of the public, and famous Welsh sports stars in Cardiff Bay. For years, these men didn't receive the recognition their talents and accolades deserved in their hometown. After a long campaign by residents of Butetown, a statue was unveiled in Cardiff Bay. Billy Boston, who scored 478 tries in 487 matches for Wigan after making the rugby switch from union to league in 1953, described the unveiling of the statue as one of the 'highlights of my life.' Billy Boston never had the opportunity to represent Cardiff or Wales in rugby union, something that, even after all these years, the rugby legend still speaks about with regret. Black players didn’t represent Wales in rugby union until the 1980s.
A statue of Billy Boston MBE was unveiled a few years ago in Wigan city center, but for some reason, there was no statue in his hometown of Cardiff. Billy Boston, born in 1934, grew up on Angelina Street in Tiger Bay and played rugby for Cardiff Schools, Boys Clubs of Wales, Wales Youth, the CIACS, and Neath in rugby union before signing for Wigan rugby league in 1953. Mr. Boston attended the unveiling and watched as the third statue of himself was revealed. At the event, he said: 'Cardiff and Wales have always held a special place in my heart. Wigan adopted me and became my home away from home.
To have a statue of myself and magnificent men such as Gus Risman and Clive Sullivan is simply unbelievable. I feel honoured to be singled out for this remarkable tribute by the people of Cardiff. “Let’s face it there aren’t many left who have ever seen me play for Wigan or Great Britain. For us to be remembered in this way is truly wonderful. The three players featured on the statue grew up in the historic Tiger Bay area and went on to become some of the country's greatest sporting heroes. Due not getting a break in Wales all three decided to go up north to start their professional rugby career in the league code.
Clive Sullivan, who scored 250 tries for Hull and another 118 for Hull Kingston Rovers, became the first black player to captain any Great Britain side and led his country to the 1972 Rugby League World Cup glory. Rosalyn Sullivan, the wife of the late Sullivan, who attended the unveiling of the statue, said: 'I'm extremely proud, and I'm so happy for Clive that he's been honored in this way in his hometown. It's sad as well, seeing him here and him not being able to see how much he's admired; it's such an overwhelming time. He'd have been over the moon.
Established in 2020, the 'One Team. One Race: Honouring the Cardiff Bay Rugby Codebreakers' project behind the statue was inspired to begin fundraising for a statue following calls from Butetown residents and the wider Cardiff Bay community for a fitting tribute to the players who did so much to improve race relations across Britain. One member of the public who didn’t want to give his name stated, 'I didn’t believe a statue would be done of these men but was happy that these players have finally been given recognition in their hometown after all these years. He also stated that the Welsh Rugby Union has a lot to answer for regarding how these men were treated in their hometown. The statue, created by Yorkshire sculptor Steve Winterburn, stands on a prominent part of Cardiff Bay near St. David’s Hotel.
PRESS RELEASE - BILLY: THE POWERFUL LIFE OF BILLY BOSTON
www.broga.cymru Cardiff-based publisher Llyfrau Broga Books have announced that the 10th edition of their hit children’s book series ‘Welsh Wonders’ will celebrate the life and achievements of rugby league legend Billy Boston MBE. It is written by popular childrens author Jessica Dunrod and illustrated by talented former Disney artist, Selom Sunu. BILLY: The Powerful Life of Billy Boston and BILLY: Bywyd Pwerus Billy Boston will launch on St. David's Day, 2024.
Press release by: Jessica Dunrod
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