Giant statue of three Welsh rugby heroes unveiled in Cardiff

A new statue of three Welsh rugby league legends has been unveiled in Cardiff Bay. The bronze depiction of Billy Boston, Clive Sullivan and Gus Risman was revealed in Landsea Square, Mermaid Quay.

More than 100 people gathered to witness the unveiling of the statue, including, family, friends, members of the public and famous Welsh sports stars.

The ‘One Team – One Race, Honouring the Cardiff Bay Rugby Codebreakers’ project launched in 2020 and raised money to create a statue that honours 13 sports stars who grew up within a three-mile radius of Cardiff Bay. Three of the 13 rugby ‘codebreakers’ were selected to be represented in the statue after a public vote of more than 14,000 participants, whilst the other 10 have plaques of their names included on the statue.

It is the first statue in Wales ever to feature non-fictionalised, named black men.

A choir of local Cardiff school children started the event by singing Welsh hymn, Calon Lan, with members of the audience joining them in song. This was followed by a number of speakers who shared their pride and excitement for the new statue.

Billy Boston MBE, 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 RL in 1953. Mr Boston was in attendance at 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 from home.

“But all of a sudden as I look up and see my arms around Gus and Clive on this statue, I feel very much at home. I may have been a Wiganer for the past 70 years but it looks as though I am home to stay now.”

Many family members of the three rugby legends attended the unveiling, sharing their pride as their, brothers, uncles and grandfathers were celebrated.

Sharon Dixon, sister of Clive Sullivan, told WalesOnline: “I’m incredibly