Wigan and Great Britain rugby league legend Sir Billy Boston, who became the sport’s first knighted player, has died at the age of 92.
The revered Welshman passed away just weeks after the death of his wife, Lady Joan, having been dealing with dementia in his later years.
He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as one of the most prolific try-scorers in the history of the 13-man code.
From Cardiff to Wigan folklore
Born in Cardiff’s Tiger Bay in 1934, the prodigious talent initially grew up playing rugby union.
After being overlooked by his hometown club, he was spotted by league scouts during his national service and signed for Wigan as a 19-year-old in 1953.
The lightning-fast winger rapidly adapted to the professional ranks, reaching the 100-try milestone in merely 68 matches following his code switch.
He would go on to register an extraordinary 478 tries in 488 appearances for the Cherry and Whites, securing three Challenge Cups and a Championship title.
Making history on the international stage
His raw ability was recognised almost immediately at international level when he was selected for the 1954 Great Britain squad travelling to Australia and New Zealand.
That landmark selection saw the powerful runner become the first black British player to tour the southern hemisphere.
The former Wigan talisman amassed 24 tries in 31 appearances for his country over a distinguished international career.
His crowning international achievement came in 1960 when he scored a crucial try to help Great Britain defeat Australia 10-3 and lift the World Cup at Bradford’s Odsal Stadium.
A legacy immortalised in bronze
Finishing his playing days as a second-row forward with Blackpool Borough, the legendary athlete accumulated a staggering 571 career tries.
That phenomenal tally remains surpassed only by Australian icon Brian Bevan in top-flight rugby league history.
Following his retirement, the adopted northerner ran a hotel near Wigan’s Central Park ground, where he eventually had a stand named in his honour.
His immense contribution to the sport is celebrated with three separate statues located at Wembley Stadium, Wigan, and his birth city of Cardiff.
Universally revered across the sport
The sporting icon received an MBE in 1986 and became an inaugural inductee into both the Rugby League and Welsh Sports Halls of Fame.
In 2025, he was awarded a knighthood by King Charles, making him the only player in rugby league’s 130-year history to receive the prestigious honour.
BBC rugby league commentator Matt Newsum highlighted how widely respected the winger remained across fiercely tribal club divides.
It is testament to the star power of Sir Billy Boston that even 56 years after he last graced a rugby pitch, young fans are fully aware of the legend that is the Welshman from Cardiff’s Tiger Bay.
He had a uniquely unifying effect on a normally partisan and tribal rugby league community, and you won’t hear a boo or jeer at mention of Boston anywhere.
Undisputed champion Katie Taylor has confirmed she will conclude her historic boxing career against Flora Pili at Croke Park on 5 September.
A capacity crowd of 80,000 is expected at the Dublin stadium to witness the Olympic gold medallist bow out on home soil.
The Irishwoman is set to hang up her gloves following a storied journey that transformed the landscape of women’s sport globally.
A fitting finale for a trailblazer
The Bray-born fighter famously began her amateur career by pretending to be a boy in order to compete at local boxing clubs.
She subsequently secured gold at the 2012 London Olympics before dominating the professional ranks and becoming a two-weight undisputed world champion.
Her legacy also includes a legendary trilogy of bouts against Puerto Rican rival Amanda Serrano, cementing her status as a generational talent.
Speaking about her imminent retirement, the former Republic of Ireland international footballer expressed her delight at finally securing a stadium event.
“This is the fairy-tale end I always wanted and I can’t believe it’s actually happening.”
Celebrating an unprecedented legacy
Promoter Eddie Hearn and a dedicated coaching team have guided the trailblazing athlete throughout a professional journey that shattered glass ceilings.
To commemorate her impending retirement, a special tribute publication is being released in August to document her remarkable sporting achievements.
The souvenir edition features insights from former opponents, including the sole woman to defeat the phenomenal champion in the professional arena.
As she steps between the ropes for one final time, the lightweight icon will look to sign off a peerless career with a definitive victory.
Former snooker world champion Graeme Dott has been found guilty of child abuse offences committed between 1993 and 2010 following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
The 49-year-old was convicted of lewd and libidinous behaviour towards a girl and a boy.
Throughout the legal proceedings, the 2006 Crucible winner had consistently denied all charges brought against him.
Sentencing deferred to Edinburgh hearing
The presiding judge has now deferred the final sentencing until a separate hearing scheduled for 29 September.
This forthcoming court appearance will take place in Edinburgh, where the appropriate penalty will be formally handed down.
The Scottish player originally reached the pinnacle of his sporting career when he lifted the sport’s most prestigious trophy nearly two decades ago.
Historical offences span extended period
The historical nature of these crimes means the documented offences occurred over a prolonged 17-year timeline.
Legal authorities pursued the case against the former professional despite the significant time that has elapsed since the incidents.
Further details regarding the full extent of the convictions are expected to be published following the conclusion of the judicial process next month.
South African police have arrested four suspects in connection with the murder of two-time world boxing champion Zolani Tete, who was shot dead in an ambush outside his home on Friday.
The 38-year-old was killed in his vehicle while waiting for the gate to his property to open in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape.
A 27-year-old female passenger was also injured in the attack and is currently receiving treatment in hospital.
Officials confirmed that two armed attackers wearing balaclavas emerged from another vehicle and fired multiple shots at the former bantamweight titleholder.
Court appearances scheduled
A 22-year-old man detained on Saturday will make his initial court appearance on Monday to face charges of murder and attempted murder.
The three remaining suspects were apprehended on Sunday and are due to appear before a judge on Tuesday.
Two of these individuals have been charged with the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
It remains unclear whether they will also face direct charges relating to the fatal shooting of the South African fighter.
Tributes paid to boxing great
The country’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie led the tributes to the fallen athlete following the tragic news.
“South Africa has lost one of the finest fighters it has ever produced.”
Former Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula also mourned the loss of a man who made an immense contribution to the sport.
The highly regarded southpaw amassed 29 victories across 34 professional bouts during a distinguished career.
He notably holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in a title fight, dispatching Siboniso Gonya in just 11 seconds in 2017.
Doping ban and comeback plans
The former IBF super-flyweight champion last entered the ring in July 2022 to face Briton Jason Cunningham in London.
That knockout victory was later overturned to a no-contest after he tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol.
The UK Anti-Doping Agency consequently handed the veteran boxer a four-year suspension, which officially expired in July this year.
Manager Mla Tengimfene recently confirmed his client had been actively training in preparation for a highly anticipated comeback fight.
Jon Rahm has secured his third consecutive LIV Golf season points title in Indiana, but the Spanish star and his fellow players face an uncertain future following the withdrawal of Saudi Arabian funding.
Rahm closed with a seven-under-par 63 at the revised season finale in suburban Indianapolis, suffering a late bogey to finish one stroke behind 22-year-old Michael La Sasso.
The American prodigy and 2025 NCAA individual champion carded a 65 to reach 18 under par and claim the tournament victory.
Despite missing out on the individual event win, the two-time major champion successfully defended his team crown alongside capturing the season-long individual honours.
Questions surround LIV 2.0
While the on-course action concluded on Sunday, significant doubts remain over the long-term viability of the breakaway circuit.
In April, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund announced it would end its financial backing of the league following a five-year investment exceeding $5bn (£3.9bn).
The withdrawal has forced organisers to scramble for alternative funding, leading to the late cancellation of two scheduled events this season.
LIV chief executive Scott O’Neil remains optimistic about a restructured league launching in 2027.
O’Neil has outlined a proposed 10-tournament schedule comprising five overseas team championships and five individual events in the United States.
Under these new proposals, participating golfers would become equity owners and regain their commercial rights.
New investment on the horizon
A preliminary agreement has reportedly been reached with Ted Goldthorpe of private equity firm BC Partners to secure the tour’s future.
Goldthorpe addressed the roster of players in Indianapolis earlier this week to present his vision for the revamped league.
However, O’Neil acknowledged that a binding term sheet has yet to be signed and declined to specify the size of the proposed financial injection.
A compressed timeline now faces the organisers, with a strict deadline set for players to commit to the new structure.
‘It’s just golf’
The former Masters champion insists the ongoing boardroom turmoil has not impacted his ability to perform inside the ropes.
“There’s been a lot that’s surrounded all of us pretty much since we joined, and at the end of the day when you step on the golf course, it’s just golf.”
“So all the problems and theories go away, and you compete. It hasn’t been any harder or any easier in any way. It’s just, kind of I think, the life of a pro athlete.”
The 29-year-old Spaniard remains under contract through next season, ensuring his short-term presence on the tour.
Conversely, high-profile figures such as Bryson DeChambeau face immediate decisions regarding their futures, as the American’s current deal expires this year.
DeChambeau finished tied for third alongside Sergio Garcia on Sunday and notably declined to speak with the media.
Mitchell Starc claimed a magnificent 10-wicket match haul as Australia avenged their shock defeat to Bangladesh with an innings-and-51-run victory in Mackay to draw the series.
Dominant seamers decimate the tourists
The visitors were skittled for just 95 in their second innings inside 39 overs at the Great Barrier Reef Arena.
Nathan Lyon and captain Pat Cummins provided excellent support by taking three wickets apiece to wrap up the victory shortly after tea on day two.
The crushing result follows a stunning nine-wicket defeat for the world’s top-ranked side in Darwin last Sunday.
That initial loss was widely regarded as one of the greatest upsets in modern Test cricket.
“A lot of things went right these couple days and a lot of things went wrong last week,” said Cummins.
“We needed to bounce back, and it was a great couple of days from the lads. I thought everyone was sharp.”
Starc climbs the all-time rankings
Earlier in the day, the hosts extended their overnight total to 210, with Cameron Green top-scoring with 67 to secure a 146-run first-innings lead.
Bangladesh left-arm paceman Shoriful Islam was the standout performer for the tourists, finishing with impressive figures of 7-48.
However, a catastrophic second-innings start saw the Asian side slump to 24-3 within eight overs.
The Player of the Match and Series reflected on his side’s drastically improved performance following the collapse.
“Much better week. We knew we weren’t at our best, or what we expect of ourselves, in Darwin,” stated the 36-year-old.
The veteran fast bowler has now ascended to 10th on the all-time Test wicket-takers list with 445 dismissals.
He sits 126 victims behind his spin-bowling team-mate Lyon, who currently occupies sixth place globally.
Looking ahead to South Africa
The Australians will now turn their attention to a highly anticipated three-match tour against world Test champions South Africa in October.
Teofimo Lopez became a three-weight world champion by defeating Rolando Romero via majority decision to claim the WBA welterweight title in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Making his debut at 147lbs, the 29-year-old absorbed his former sparring partner’s early power to secure a hard-fought victory at the T-Mobile Arena.
Two judges scored the contest 115-113 and 116-112 in favour of the challenger, while the third official saw it as a 114-114 draw.
Vital career resurgence
The result represents a crucial return to winning ways for the newly crowned champion.
He had previously suffered a lopsided points defeat against Shakur Stevenson in their WBO super-lightweight clash earlier this year.
“I’m a true example of what winning is and it ain’t about losing. It’s about never giving up.”
Teofimo Lopez
Meanwhile, Romero was making his first appearance in the ring following a lengthy 15-month layoff.
The defending titleholder found early success despite the long absence, visibly rocking his opponent with a right hand in the fifth round.
Romero disputes judges’ scorecards
The challenger recovered swiftly from the early scare and dictated the pace throughout the second half of the bout.
Compubox statistics showed the three-division champion landed 124 of his 530 punches, heavily targeting the body to wear down his rival.
In stark contrast, the Las Vegas native connected with just 73 strikes all evening and landed a mere two punches in the final round.
The defeat is his first since being stopped by Isaac Cruz in March 2024.
“I got hit with two punches the whole fight that barely grazed me. I was never in any trouble. When I heard 114-114, I knew it was a robbery.”
Rolando Romero
Future unification bouts await
The victorious Brooklyn-born fighter now possesses numerous lucrative options in boxing’s historic glamour division.
Potential opponents include WBO champion Devin Haney or a clash with IBF titleholder Liam Paro.
“There was a shot he hit me with that woke me up, and I told him, ‘You got to do better than that.’ I just kept saying, ‘You ain’t going to take me out.'”
Teofimo Lopez
Former two-time boxing world champion Zolani Tete has been shot dead in an ambush outside his home in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
Police confirm fatal ambush
The 38-year-old was accompanied by a 27-year-old woman when two masked suspects opened fire as they waited outside the gates of his residence.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed the incident occurred at approximately 18:30 local time.
“In an attempt to escape the hail of bullets, the deceased drove his vehicle into the yard,” Gantana stated.
Authorities confirmed the South African fighter succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Search for suspects continues
Gantana reported that the female passenger sustained multiple gunshot wounds during the incident and was rushed to a nearby hospital.
She remains under medical care while an active police investigation gets underway.
“At this stage, no arrests have been made. The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be apprehended,” Gantana added.
A decorated but controversial career
During a successful professional career, the fighter claimed both the WBF flyweight and WBO bantamweight world titles.
His last appearance in the ring came in July 2022, when he defeated British boxer Jason Cunningham at Wembley Arena.
However, the southpaw had been absent from the sport recently after testing positive for the banned steroid stanozolol following that bout.
He was widely expected to make a return to competitive boxing in the near future before this fatal incident occurred.