Rise To Fame From Humble Start

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30390, 14 March 1964, Page 9

Rise To Fame From Humble Start

TWENTY years ago two little boys entered the the Rugby Union Code in the Tiger Bay area of sprawling Cardiff. Both were to become champions of sport —but not Rugby. The boys were William John (Billy) Boston and Joseph (Joe) Erskine. Boston was born in Cardiff on August 6, 1934, one of a family of 13. His father was a West Indian dock worker, his mother was Irish. Boston was eaught up in the Welsh enthusiasm for Rugby. Soon he was a Cardiff schoolboy representative. Then he played for the Welsh junior team with Erskine, later one of

the world's top heavy weight boxers. At the age of 18 Boston was the youngest ever captain of the Cardiff and Districts team and realised his boyhood ambition of playing on Cardiff Arms Park. A great career in Rugby Union seemed assured. But his progress did not go unnoticed in Rugby League circles. He had been approached to turn professional by Hunslet at the age of 16 but waited for two years until he signed for Wigan. After only six games of Rugby League Boston was chosen for the tour of Australia and New Zealand. He broke the try-scoring record, on his first tour crossing the line 36 times in 13 matches.

After making the 1957 World Cup team to Austi ralia, Boston and another • great Welsh player. B. L. I Jones, were surprisingly omitted from the 1958 Aust- ' ralasian tour. But Boston was not finished. In 1962 he came bouncing back after ! playing in the tests against the touring Kiwis. He made ; his second trip that year and helped to beat the i Australians. Boston is a humble man. It is as if he were embar- ' rassed to be suddenly promoted to the position of an , international figure. When he arrived in New Zealand I in 1962 he found that because he was dark-skinned he was ; required to have an entry ; permit. When the official’s mistake was discovered the then Minister of Immig-

ration (Mr Shand) thanked Boston for the courteous way in which he bad accepted the situation and issued an apology to Boston.