Leslie Pearce (13 October 1923 – 21 April 2018) was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s, and coached rugby league in the 1970s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Swansea RFC as a lock, and club level rugby league (RL) for Halifax as a , and coached representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Halifax, Leigh and Dewsbury.
Background Les Pearce was born in Swansea. He had three siblings named Ash, Flora, and Jhonaston. Pearce died in 2018, aged 94.
Coaching career Halifax Pearce was coach of the Halifax team which won the 1971–72 Player's No.6 Trophy Final with a 22–11 victory over Wakefield Trinity. The match was played at Odsal Stadium on Saturday, 22 January 1972.
Leigh He moved to Leigh as their head coach. They had a 5–0 victory over Widnes in the 1972 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final, during the 1972–73 season, at Central Park on Tuesday, 19 December 1972.
Wales Pearce went on to coach Wales in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup.
References
External links The Welshman who kicked an amazing 535 goals for Halifax Dragons and All Blacks: Wales v. New Zealand – 1953 and a Century of Rivalry Canterbury's Bid For Mills You've Never Had It So Good!: Recollections of Life in the 1950s Battle Of Brisbane Players Reunite 40 Years On (archived by web.archive.org) Dave Fleming's Blast From The Past