Bill Arthur: A year on, Sky Sports Rugby League remembers its old commentator friend

A year after his passing, Sky Sports Rugby League remembers its long-time colleague and friend Bill Arthur. Bill worked for Sky from 1991 to 2024, providing commentary on some of the biggest moments in rugby league. He passed away after a long battle with prostate cancer.

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A look at Bill Arthur's significant impact on rugby league during his career at Sky Sports

A year after his death, Sky Sports Rugby League is paying tribute to long-time commentator and close friend Bill Arthur…

Bill passed away on July 24, 2024, at the age of 68, after a long battle with prostate cancer, which he was diagnosed with back in 2011.

Bill was a much loved and respected member of the Sky Sports family and his absence will be felt by his friends and colleagues.

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Before the match at the John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield and Leeds players paid tribute to Bill Arthur with a minute's applause.

Having joined Sky Sports in 1991, Bill covered the exciting new world of summer rugby and Super League from the start, eventually becoming Sky Sports' lead rugby league commentator following the departure of Eddie Hemmings in April 2019.

His arsenal included an accurate commentary on Gareth O'Brien's drop goal that secured the golden point in the 2016 Million Pound Match as Salford Red Devils secured Super League survival with a win over Hull City, and the touching moment Rob Burrow came on for his final game for Leeds Rhinos against the Bradford Bulls in 2020.

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This is the moment Gareth O'Brien's goal to seal the title completed Salford's incredible return to Super League.

Perhaps most memorable, however, was his presence on the pitch to commentate on the dramatic conclusion to that year's grand final, where 19-year-old Jack Welsby snatched victory for St Helens over Wigan Warriors in the final game.

A year on, his family and members of Sky Sports Rugby League remember Bill as a close friend, an outstanding colleague and a passionate advocate for prostate cancer in the UK.

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