Bill Buckley

Who was Bill Buckley?

William George Buckley OBE was an Australian rugby league footballer and administrator.

A front rower, Buckley played 75 first-grade matches for Newtown. He broke his leg in 1928 but returned to play another three seasons.

After playing, Buckley joined the New South Wales Rugby Football League General Committee as delegate of Newtown. When NSWRFL president Jersey Flegg died in 1960, Buckley replaced him and also became boss of the Australian Rugby League, a position he remained in from 1960 until his death in 1973. He was made a Life Member of Newtown and the Australian Rugby League and was also a member of the SCG Trust. In 1968 Buckley became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to sport, especially rugby league and the community.