SaqSky Sports rugby league commentator Bill Arthur has died after a long battle with prostate cancer.
The 68-year-old, diagnosed in 2011, died peacefully on Wednesday surrounded by his family, the television channel confirmed.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague Bill Arthur,” said chief executive Jonathan Licht. “Bill has been a mainstay of Sky Sports’ rugby league coverage for the last 30 years.
“I would like to express my personal gratitude to Bill for his unwavering commitment to Sky, and for the passion and dedication he has brought to our viewers and sports fans.
“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.”
Sky Sports rugby league pundit Barrie McDermott and former commentator Eddie Hemmings, who also suffered from prostate cancer, were among those to pay tribute.
“His courage in facing his illness was an inspiration to men like me, who followed him every step of the way,” Hemmings said. “He helped me fight the disease that cruelly took him from us, and I will never forget his support and the good advice he gave me. He was such a courageous man.”
“I consider myself very fortunate to have been one of the people who listened to him and learned from him,” McDermott said. “I will always be grateful for his guidance, support and friendship over the years.”
After starting his career as a journalist in South Yorkshire newspapers, Arthur 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.
A rugby league enthusiast, in the early 1990s he became the regular on-field reporter for live matches and the in-depth reporter for Boots ‘N’ All magazine.
He was also involved in summer rugby and Super League coverage from the start.
Arthur was on the Old Trafford pitch for the inaugural Super League Grand Final and will work on every edition of the competition’s flagship event until the end of the 2023 season.
He also lent his expertise to the Academy League commentary booth in the late 1990s, and was lead commentator for 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 Hemmings’ retirement in April 2019.
His time behind the microphone included the emotional moment the late Rob Burrow walked onto the pitch in his final game for Leeds Rhinos against Bradford Bulls in 2020.
He also commentated on his beloved Catalans Dragons’ runs to the 2021 and 2023 Grand Finals, although in each of those finals he would see them defeated by St Helens and Wigan Warriors respectively.
Arthur is survived by his wife Cherry and his children, Simon, Meredith, Kit and Nancy.
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