17 Facts About Les Boyd

Les Boyd was born on 17 November 1956 and is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s.

Les Boyd played representative football for the Australian national side in international matches as well as the New South Wales side in the State of Origin.

From 1976 to 1984 Boyd played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for the Western Suburbs Magpies, then the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

Les Boyd was selected to go on the 1978 Kangaroo tour and his hard running saw him emerge as one of the star forwards on the tour, culminating with him forcing his way into the test team for the final two Ashes tests against Great Britain.

Les Boyd made his test debut for the Kangaroos when selected on the bench for the second Ashes test at Bradford's Odsal Stadium.

Later that year, Boyd made his second Kangaroo Tour when he was part of the undefeated 1982 Kangaroos side who became known as "The Invincibles".

Les Boyd then reverted to his usual second row for the first test against France in Narbonne before again playing in the front row in the second test, the last match on the tour.

Les Boyd was not cited by the NSWRL over the incident and the following day was actually selected in the Australian team for the New Zealand test but was forced to step down when Charlie Gibson, the Secretary of Brohman's club team Penrith, officially cited him.

Many, including NSW coach Ted Glossop who appeared at the judiciary on Les Boyd's behalf, believe he was unfairly dealt with by the judiciary headed by lawyer Jim Comans who suspended the Manly forward for 12 months.

At the time Comans was on a campaign to clean up the violence in rugby league and many felt that Les Boyd had been used as something of a poster boy for the campaign, with the punishment far outweighing the crime.

Close to half time, Les Boyd was tackled by Vautin who was penalised for not letting him up to play the ball.

Les Boyd pushed Vautin who responded by throwing a punch which Les Boyd returned in kind.

Things looked likely to escalate until Maroons replacement front rower Dave Brown, stepped in and hit Les Boyd, effectively calming things down.

In 1984 while playing for Manly, Les Boyd was again suspended, this time for a record-equalling 15 months for eye-gouging of Canterbury hooker Billy Johnstone.

Les Boyd played out the rest of his career in England with Warrington.

In 2000 Les Boyd was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league.

Les Boyd, who was ascribed Hall of Fame number 117, was amongst eleven male players in the 2024 Class.