Les Rackley

Les Rackley
Personal information
Full name Leslie Frank Rackley
Born c.1954
Relatives Jeff Rackley (brother)
Rugby career
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1977 Nelson Bays 3 4
Medal record
Representing  New Zealand
Men's Boxing
British Commonwealth Games
1974 ChristchurchMiddleweight

Leslie Frank Rackley (born c.1954) is a former New Zealand amateur boxer and rugby union player. He won a bronze medal for boxing in the middleweight division at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games.

Early life and family

Rackley was born into a noted sported family. His father, Les Rackley Sr, is a notable New Zealand boxing trainer; his brothers Jeff, Perry, and Dean all represented New Zealand in boxing at either Olympic or Commonwealth Games; and his sisters Margaret and Tish were both national volleyball representatives.[1] Les Rackley Jr was educated at Victory School in Nelson,[1] Nelson Intermediate School,[2] and then Nelson College from 1968 to 1972, where he was a member of the 1st XV rugby team in 1972 and the 1st XI cricket team in 1970 and 1971.[3]

Boxing

Trained by his father, Rackley won New Zealand junior titles at the national junior boxing championships in 1969 and 1970.[4] In 1971 he won the national intermediate welterweight title,[5] and in 1972 he was the New Zealand middleweight champion.[6] He went on to represent New Zealand at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, winning a bronze medal in the men's middleweight (71–75 kg) division.[1][7]

Rugby union

A forward, Rackley played for the Rival Rugby Football Club in Nelson.[8] At a provincial level, he played three matches for Nelson Bays in 1977, scoring four points.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Smith's victory destined in name of suburb". Timaru Herald. 26 January 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "Intermediate school presents "Oliver"". Nelson Photo News (86). 9 December 1967. p. 42. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  3. ↑ "Full school list of Nelson College, 1856–2005". Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006 (CD-ROM)|format= requires |url= (help) (6th ed.). 2006.
  4. ↑ "Nelson boxers successful". Nelson Photo News (120). 17 October 1970. p. 52. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "Successful boxing season". Nelson Photo News (133). 13 November 1971. p. 33. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "This is Rackley country". Nelson Photo News (145). 11 November 1972. p. 22. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  7. ↑ "Leslie Rackley". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Leslie Frank Rackley". New Zealand Rugby History. Kerry Geertson. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
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