UK lifting and machinery moving specialist AIS Vanguard, installed a statue celebrating three famous Welsh rugby players in Cardiff, Wales last week. It used a Terex/Franna 14SB pick & carry crane to lift, carry and place the 1.5 tonne Bronze statue onto its plinth in Landsea Square, Mermaid Quay.
The Franna carries the statue from the road...
Sculpted by Steve Winterburn the statue features Billy Boston, Clive Sullivan, and Gus Risman all of whom switched from the then amateur Rugby Union game to the professional Rugby League, joining Wigan, Hull Kingston Rovers and Salford & Workington respectively, thus ‘breaking the code’ and making them pariahs and outcasts in their home country.
down the walkway...
The statue, which celebrates reconciliation, is also the first in Wales to feature non fictional black men.
AIS contract manager Steve Surples said: “The lift was undertaken early in the morning to cause as little disruption as possible to rush hour traffic. It was completed safely, and the statue now stands proudly in its place. We were delighted to lend our expertise to support such an important project for the people of Cardiff Bay and the game of rugby.”
...to place it on its plinth
The following biographies highlight the careers and achievements of the three men.
Billy Boston
Born in 1934, Boston signed for Wigan RL as a teen, scoring 478 tries in 487 matches over 15 seasons helping the team win six Challenge Cup finals. He also played a key role in the 1960 championship final victory, securing the team’s first title in eight years.
Internationally, he was part of Great Britain's World Cup triumph and represented the Lions 31 times.
He has been inducted into the Rugby League and Wigan Halls of Fame, the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame's 'Roll of Honour,' and received an MBE for his contributions to sport. Wigan dedicated a statue to him, and he is featured on the Rugby League statue at Wembley Stadium.
The statue of Billy Boston, Gus Risman and Clive Sullivan
Clive Sullivan
Born in 1943 in Splott, Sullivan joined the army after school and pursued rugby in his late teens. He then joined Hull, playing 352 games and scoring 250 tries for the club. After moving to Hull Kingston Rovers, he added 118 tries to his tally in 213 games, winning the Challenge Cup with both clubs.
In 1966-67, he earned his first Great Britain cap, and scored the winning try against France. In all he won 17 caps and participated in the 1968 World Cup series in Australia. He also made history as the first black captain of a British side leading his team to victory in the 1972 Rugby League World Cup. He also captained Wales at the 1975 World Cup.
Gus Risman
Born in 1911 to Russian immigrants who settled in Tiger Bay, Risman became one of Wales' greatest rugby players, excelling in both union and league.
His achievements earnt him a spot in the Rugby League and Workington Halls of Fame, as well as the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame 'Roll of Honour.' Streets are named after him in Salford and Workington, and he is commemorated on the Rugby League statue at Wembley Stadium.
During his career from 1929 to 1954, he scored 4,052 points in 873 games for Salford and Workington Town. He played 36 test matches for Britain and won 18 Welsh caps, played in four Rugby League Championships, made three Challenge Cup final appearances at Wembley, won five Lancashire League titles, and three Lancashire Cup winners medals and at the age of 41 captained the Workington Town team that won the Challenge Cup.
Photos courtesy of Adam Ainscough from Helicam Services
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