Sky Sports today confirms the incredibly sad news that legendary Sky Sports rugby league commentator Bill Arthur has died at the age of 68 after a long battle with prostate cancer.
Bill passed away peacefully on Wednesday surrounded by his family and inspired many with his courageous fight against the disease he was diagnosed with in 2011.
Bill was a much loved and respected member of the Sky Sports family, who will be sadly missed by his friends and colleagues. The entire Sky Sports team extends its deepest condolences to Bill’s loved ones and asks that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.
After starting his career as a journalist in South Yorkshire newspapers, Bill worked for the Barnsley Star and the Sheffield Star before moving into radio, working for Metro Radio in Newcastle and Radio City in Liverpool.
He then joined morning television channel TV AM and worked for Champion TV as a North West reporter. From 1990 he worked on The Sports Channel, which later became Sky Sports the following year.
Although originally from Leamington Spa, he was a keen rugby league fan and in the early 1990s became the regular on-field reporter for live matches and feature reporter for the magazine programme. Boots and all.
Bill was also involved in covering the new world of summer rugby and Super League from the start.
On the pitch, he was there at the Stade Charlety to witness the birth of a new era as Paris Saint-Germain beat Sheffield Eagles 30-24 in front of a crowd of 18,000.
Two years later he was in the same role at Old Trafford for the inaugural Super League Grand Final and would continue to work on every edition of the competition’s flagship event until the end of the 2023 season.
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Bill Arthur has commented on the incredible moment Gareth O’Brien’s drop goal capped Salford’s incredible comeback to stay in Super League
Bill then moved from pitchside to the commentary booth, commentating on the Academy League with Phil Clarke in the late 1990s, and he was also the lead commentator on Sky’s Championship coverage from 2007 to 2012, working alongside Barrie McDermott and Terry O’Connor.
He was eventually promoted to Sky Sports’ lead rugby league commentator following Eddie Hemmings’ retirement in April 2019.
His time behind the microphone included calling Gareth O’Brien’s golden-point drop goal in the 2016 Million Pound Game which saw Salford Red Devils secure their Super League survival at the expense of Hull KR, and the emotional moment Rob Burrow walked onto the pitch in his final game for Leeds Rhinos against Bradford Bulls in 2020.
But perhaps most memorably, he was there to announce the dramatic conclusion to that year’s Grand Final, where 19-year-old Jack Welsby snatched victory for St Helens against Wigan Warriors with the final play of the match.
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Bill Arthur was behind the microphone for the conclusion of the 2020 Grand Final when Jack Welsby snatched victory for St Helens against Wigan with the final play of the match
Commentating on his beloved Catalans Dragons’ runs to the 2021 and 2023 Grand Finals was undoubtedly also a highlight, although in each of those finals he saw them defeated by St Helens and Wigan Warriors respectively.
Jonathan Licht, Sky Sports Managing Director, said: “We are truly saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague Bill Arthur.
“Bill has been a pillar of Sky Sports’ rugby league coverage for 30 years. I would like to express my personal gratitude to Bill for his unwavering commitment to Sky, and the passion and dedication he has brought to our viewers and fans of the game.
“I know Bill will be greatly missed by those who were fortunate enough to work with him, and I would like to extend my condolences to Bill’s wife, Cherry, and his family on their loss.”
He is survived by his wife Cherry and his children, Simon, Meredith, Kit and Nancy.
Tribute from former Sky Sports Rugby League commentator Eddie Hemmings
Bill Arthur… what a pro!
I first met Bill when I was at BBC Radio Merseyside in Liverpool. Bill was in the ‘opposition camp’ at Radio City.
When Champion TV launched in the late 1980s our paths crossed again – Bill was the North West reporter for the BSB sports channel – I was recruited to commentate and present the rugby league programmes – The Major League – and when Sky took over BSB, Bill joined the rugby league department and was for many years our touchline reporter, whilst also producing some wonderful reports for the midweek magazine programme. Boots and all.
As the game developed on Sky, Bill’s commentary skills were put to good use as he called Academy matches with former Wigan and Great Britain captain Phil Clarke, identifying many young players who went on to play in the Super League when it was founded in 1996.
This is where Bill’s career took off – he was the main commentator for many years on the Catalans Dragons’ matches in the South of France and was a key member of the team. Sky Sports teams that have embarked on tours of Australia to cover the Great Britain Lions and more recently England internationals. His commentary skills were developed when he commentated on League One matches.
In 2006 we were in the middle of the Tri-Nations tour of Australia and Bill was on a mission to get home to England. Twenty-four hours later he was commentating on a match in Widnes and was immediately back on a plane to return to Sydney to continue the Tri-Nations tour! It didn’t exactly cost him a fortune.
He also travelled halfway around the world in 2002 to witness and describe Great Britain’s crushing one-off Test defeat by the Australians, also in Sydney. A tough task for any England fan – but he coped magnificently.
For several years after all this, Bill was a regular commentator on Super League games, Magic Weekends, Championship Finals and the like. So when I hung up the microphone for the last time in 2019, he had effortlessly settled into the lead Super League commentator’s chair.
It was he who so gloriously described the drama of St Helens’ last-minute try that saw them win the Grand Final in Hull in a completely empty stadium against Wigan in the immediate aftermath of the Covid pandemic – a difficult job done brilliantly in a context of empty seats and terraces.
But perhaps Bill’s greatest struggle came when, like me, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. His courage in facing the disease was an inspiration to men like me, who followed him every step of the way.
He helped me fight the illness that cruelly took him from us and I will never forget his support and the good advice he gave me. What courage.
Rest in peace Billy-Boy – your legacy will live on forever.
Tribute from former Sky Sports Rugby League commentator Mike ‘Stevo’ Stephenson
It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of our dear friend and colleague Bill Arthur.
He was a giant in the world of broadcasting at Sky TV and will be missed by all who knew him.
Bill was an easy-going person who, over the many years I worked with him, never lost his cool and had a permanent smile no matter what the scenario – which was often difficult at times.
To say he loved rugby league was an understatement and his ability to bring out the best in players, coaches and even loyal fans was a joy to behold.
His comments behind the microphone were a delight to the ear – precise and fair, but unafraid to tell the truth.
He also knew how to enjoy life and I will never forget the many times when, after the pressure of broadcasting matches, we would have a drink or two, or maybe three or more, either way it was always a pleasure to chat about life, even if his taste in music was way beyond my comprehension!
One day he called me and said the great Martin Offiah had released a record and suggested we write a song too!
Needless to say, I laughed about it, but Bill was adamant, so we did it and played it live on our midweek show. Boots and all and many fans wrote and said it was much better than Martin’s effort!
Bill will be missed but never forgotten, so rest in peace my friend, sing out loud to heaven!
Tribute from Sky Sports rugby league pundit Barrie McDermott
When I started my journey with Sky Sports Rugby League, Bill was the trusted on-field reporter.
Every week he found a smile and a burst of laughter despite the rain and the cold, but never unhappy. Everyone knew him, everyone trusted him and, with passion and enthusiasm, he always seemed to ask the right questions at the right time.
As my role at Sky grew, so did my time with the team; Bill drew the short straw and was given the task of mentoring (guarding) Terry O’Connor and myself. We would often find ourselves in the middle of nowhere, trying to put together a funny sketch for Boots and all or an informative article to highlight what was happening in our sport. Drawing on Bill’s experience and, most importantly, his advice, he always hit the mark.
Thursday night was Rugby League Championship night, so Bill, Terry and myself went to all the Championship clubs who were always happy to see us, but especially Bill who seemed to know everyone; or they knew him!
That’s the thing, no one will hear a bad word about Bill because he was loved and respected in equal measure. He was always there to help others and had a soft spot for the furthest corners of our game.
I consider myself very lucky to have been one of those people who listened to him and learned from him. I will always be grateful for his advice, support and friendship over the years.
Rest in peace Bill.
Tribute from Sky Sports rugby league commentator Stuart Pyke
Bill was a consummate professional and a very loyal friend. A highly respected presenter and a much loved friend.
His commentary on Jack Welsby’s last-second attempt to win the 2020 Super League Grand Final will forever remain one of the most iconic moments in the sport’s history.
His contribution to rugby league is immeasurable.
Tribute from Sky Sports rugby league reporter Angela Powers
Bill was a consummate professional in his work; his colleagues and the many people he interviewed and worked with over the years will agree, I am sure.
I was fortunate to know him as much more than that: a man with a brilliant and keen sense of humour, a man with incredible strength and stoicism as he lived with his illness, but most importantly, a man who was kind.
Thank you, Bill, for being a friend and role model. My thoughts are with Cherry and her family.
