Born: 9 March, 1932
Died: 17 February, 2013 – Greymouth
Test record: 1 Test (1955) – 0 points
Tours: 1955-56 tour of Great Britain and France

West Coast fullback/winger Les McNicol toured with the 1955-56 Kiwis, making a solitary Test appearance against Great Britain among 13 appearances.

The Blackball player represented West Coast from 1950 and debuted for South Island in 1952. He was a non-playing reserve during New Zealand’s 1954 home series against Great Britain before getting the call-up to tour the following season.

McNicol scored tries in his first three appearances for the Kiwis – against Wigan, Lancashire and Featherstone – and finished the tour with six touchdowns after dotting down at Castleford, Wakefield and Keighley. The 23-year-old was elevated to the Test team for the third clash with Great Britain at Headingley, Leeds, where the visitors carved out an amazing 28-13 victory.

A bout of tonsilitis curtailed McNicol’s French leg and he made just two further appearances in minor matches.

McNicol, who was also a highly-rated axeman, faced Great Britain again in 1958 as fullback in the West Coast team that went down 19-2 in Greymouth.