Everyone at Wales Rugby League is saddened to hear about the passing of Sky Sports commentator and friend of WRL, Bill Arthur, following a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 68 years old.
Sky Sports have reported that Bill died peacefully yesterday (Wednesday) surrounded by his family and inspired many with his courageous battle against the disease which he was diagnosed with in 2011.
Because of his Welsh ancestry, Bill had a big love for rugby league in Wales and would always promote us wherever he could.
When working for Sky Sports’ magazine programme Boots ‘N’ All, he would often be the person to call on for reports on the Welsh game. This included travelling to do a feature on the South Wales RLFC side in 1996, to working a lot with Celtic Crusaders and the Welsh national side. He commentated on a few Wales matches for Sky Sports, including our European Cup Final win over Scotland in 2009. Often the voice of the lower leagues, when Sky had the rights, he was normally the commentator when Crusaders were featured live.
Bill would sometimes put on his Wales colours during tournaments, right up to the last World Cup in 2022 where he sent us a message saying: “I am getting World Cup fever and want to buy some Wales RL merchandise – what is the best site for that please? Thanks and all the best.”
Beginning his journalism career in newspapers in South Yorkshire, Bill worked for the Barnsley Star and Sheffield Star before transitioning into radio, working for Metro Radio in Newcastle and Radio City in Liverpool.
He then moved into breakfast television with TV AM and worked for Champion TV as the North West reporter. From 1990, he worked on The Sports Channel which then went on to become Sky Sports the following year.
A reporter at every Super Grand Final from its inception in 1998, he eventually stepped up to become Sky Sports’ lead rugby league commentator following Eddie Hemmings’ retirement in April 2019.
WRL President Mike Nicholas said: “I’d like to send my condolences to everyone who knew Bill. He, along with Eddie Hemmings and Mike Stephenson, were the main voices on Sky Sports’ coverage of rugby league for many years. Whilst Bill was a fan of all rugby league in Wales, he was balanced in all his commentaries and always a pleasure to listen to, as he was to talk to outside of the TV coverage. RIP.”
He is survived by his wife Cherry and children, Simon, Meredith, Kit and Nancy.
