Les Rackley
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.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Leslie Frank Rackley | ||||||||||||||||
Born | c.1954 (age 65–66) | ||||||||||||||||
Relatives | Jeff Rackley (brother) | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Rugby career | |||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
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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
- "Smith's victory destined in name of suburb". Timaru Herald. 26 January 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- "Intermediate school presents "Oliver"". Nelson Photo News (86). 9 December 1967. p. 42. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- "Full school list of Nelson College, 1856–2005". Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006 (CD-ROM) (6th ed.). 2006.
- "Nelson boxers successful". Nelson Photo News (120). 17 October 1970. p. 52. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- "Successful boxing season". Nelson Photo News (133). 13 November 1971. p. 33. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- "This is Rackley country". Nelson Photo News (145). 11 November 1972. p. 22. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- "Leslie Rackley". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
- "Leslie Frank Rackley". New Zealand Rugby History. Kerry Geertson. Retrieved 18 July 2017.