Career
A front rower, Buckley played 75 lower grade matches for Newtown. He broke his leg in the 1928 NSWRFL season and his first grade career was over. After playing, Buckley joined the New South Wales Rugby Football League General Committee as delegate of Newtown in 1940.
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 replaced as NSWRFL president by Kevin Humphreys. In 1968 Bill Buckley was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for services to sport, in recognition of service to rugby league and the community.
Buckley died at Concord Repatriation Hospital after battling a long illness on 17 April 1973. A large service was held for Bill Buckley at Street James" Church, Sydney on 19 April 1973, followed by a cremation at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park.
The Premier of New South Wales, Sir Robert Askin stated in the Sydney Morning Herald: "Bill Buckley will be missed in the many circles that he moved, especially in Rugby League where he laboured so hard".
