Lisa Nandy has backed calls for Wigan legend Billy Boston to receive rugby league’s first-ever knighthood.
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Wigan MP hailed Boston as the “greatest rugby league player of all time” and deserved to be recognised.
And Nandy said it “absolutely has to change” that not a single rugby league player has been awarded a knighthood in the game’s 130-year history.
Former rugby league player Kevin Sinfield was recently overlooked and handed a CBE despite widespread support that he should be knighted for his incredible fundraising efforts for Motor Neurone Disease charities.
Nandy said: “Lots of people have said, rightly, that nobody from rugby league has ever been given a knighthood – ever.”
When quizzed on Sky Sports’ On The Bench podcast this week, Nandy said she would give the first knighthood to the “greatest rugby player of all time… his name begins with Billy and ends with Boston”.
Boston was born in Wales and scored a Wigan club record of 478 tries in his 487 matches, receiving an MBE in the 1996 Birthday Honours “for services to the community in Wigan, Greater Manchester” – falling short of a knighthood.
The 90-year-old revealed he had vascular dementia in 2016, prompting many MPs to call for his knighthood in the House of Commons, such as Speaker Lindsay Hoyle and Makerfield MP Josh Simons.
The next honours list will be published on the King’s official birthday, the first Monday of June (June 2).
The moment when Billy Boston, 90 years old and living with dementia, sees his face on the big screen, then realises the whole stadium cheering is for him 🥰😭
— Mike Meehall Wood (@MikeMeehallWood) April 19, 2025
If they ever give a rugby league player a knighthood, Billy will be first in the queue. pic.twitter.com/xm9u3yKxLp
Nandy said she previously talked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer about honouring people in overlooked sports such as rugby league.
The secretary of state discussed various issues in the wide-ranging podcast episode, including men’s mental health awareness and an independent rugby league regulator.
Following Mental Health Awareness Week, the MP said she is worried about real challenges for young boys and men in Wigan, believing rugby league is the solution.
Nandy said: “We’ve talked a lot about how difficult it is for boys to open up about their feelings.
“This is their place, though. They’ve grown up watching Wigan Warriors – this space belongs to them.
“They feel completely comfortable here in a way they wouldn’t in a job centre, or in a mental health clinic.”
Nandy said the government is moving the support to where young boys and men want to be, so when they need help, “we’ll be here to wrap our arms around you and give you everything that you need”.
Later in the episode, the cabinet minister agreed that the government must protect rugby league clubs and fans, but said she does not believe an independent regulator is essential in the same way as football.
Nandy said: “It would be a big step for the government to set up this system.
“I would need to be really convinced that the problems are so acute that there is no other option.”
This comes after the Independent Football Regulator was launched this year, prompting calls for a similar response within rugby league as the Salford Red Devils are reportedly on the brink of financial collapse.
Feature image: Lisa Nandy being interviewed by Jon Wilkin and Jenna Brooks
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