A ‘Sir Billy Boston Select XIII’ will take to the field this weekend, as Wales Rugby League comes together to celebrate the legacy of one of their greatest-ever players.

The Wigan Warriors icon, who died in August at the age of 92, will be commemorated as a team made of majorly of local Welsh players come together to take on the country’s ‘A’ team.

Sir Billy became the first man to be given a rugby league knighthood back in 2025, and scored a huge 478 tries in 487 matches for Wigan after a switch from union to league in 1953.

Boston has statues in Wigan, Cardiff and at Wembley, highlighting his stature in the sport. Winning the World Cup with Great Britain, he became the first black person to tour Australia in any British sport, not just rugby league.

This weekend, as part of a double header of action, the Sir Billy Boston Select XIII will face Wales A in a curtain raiser, before Wales’ first team take on USA.

Whilst Boston’s squad itself doesn’t have any players of real note, they will be coached by a former Super League Grand Final winner and another ex-Wigan Welshman in Ben Flower.

Flower, who last played in 2021, has turned to coaching in both league and union, and has previously been a part of Wales’ women’s Rugby Union World Cup preparations.

The former prop is currently the head coach of the South Wales Jets, and this week will see him face off against his assistant, Lloyd White, who will take charge of Wales ‘A’.

Wales Rugby League director Liam Price, who organised the Boston Select XIII, said: “I’m delighted to help bring this side together for what promises to be a fantastic day for rugby league in Wales.

“The Sir Billy Boston Memorial XIII is a great opportunity to showcase talent from across the game, and playing Wales A at The Wern ahead of the senior international makes it a special occasion.

“Having Ben Flower and Lloyd White coaching opposite sides adds an extra bit of spice. They work together at the Jets, but on Saturday they’ll both be desperate to get one over on the other! I’m sure it’ll be a competitive game and a great curtain-raiser to Wales v USA.”

Billy Boston Memorial XIII squad: Aaron Cookson, Rhys Curtis, Lewis Francis, Iestyn Scott (Aberavon Fighting Irish), Corey Harris, Harry Millington, Jacob Wallace (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Mason Apsee, Rob Davies, Jamie Jenkins, Brandon Lamb (Bristol All Golds), Evan Baker, Regan Jones, Kalem McCarthy (Rhondda Outlaws), George Groves, Aaron Harrison, David Hooper, Madoc Lane, Shane Lee, Jamie Leech, Craig Lewis, Aaran Lloyd, Connor Lloyd, Jamie Marsh, Darrel Moyle, Ben Pinnock (South Wales Jets).

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