George Fairbairn (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
George Fairbairn is a Scottish
former rugby league
footballer and coach. He played club football for Wigan
, winning the Man of Steel Award in 1980. Fairbairn was also the fullback and goal-kicker for the Great Britain national team
, however he represented the English national team
several times, including the 1975 World Cup
. He was later a player-coach at Wigan for the 1980-81 season but was then sold as a player-coach to Hull Kingston Rovers
for a record ₤72,500. Fairbairn also became coach of the Scotland national rugby league team
from 1995 to 1997.
Fairbairn became only the second Scottish-born person after Andrew Hogg
to play for the England national rugby league team
.
against Wales (2 matches), New Zealand (2 matches), Australia (2 matches), and France, and in 1975 against Papua New Guinea, in 1977 against Wales, and France, in 1978 against France, in 1980 against Wales, and France, in 1981 against France, and Wales, while at Hull K.R. in 1981 Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1977 Rugby League World Cup
against France, New Zealand, and Australia (2 matches), in 1978 against Australia (3 matches), in 1979 against Australia (2 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches), in 1980 against New Zealand (2 matches), while at Hull K.R. in 1981 against France, and in 1982 against Australia (2 matches).
With 52 goals, George is 1st in the list of England's all-time goal scorers, with 118 points he is also 1st in the list of England's all-time point scorers.
Fairbairn played , i.e. number 1 in Great Britain
’s 7-8 defeat to France
in the friendly
at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo
, Venice
on 31 July 1982.
at Hull Kingston Rovers
took place in 1992.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer and coach. He played club football for Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
, winning the Man of Steel Award in 1980. Fairbairn was also the fullback and goal-kicker for the Great Britain national team
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
, however he represented the English national team
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
several times, including the 1975 World Cup
1975 Rugby League World Cup
The 1975 Rugby League World Cup was the seventh staging of rugby league football's World Cup tournament...
. He was later a player-coach at Wigan for the 1980-81 season but was then sold as a player-coach to Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
for a record ₤72,500. Fairbairn also became coach of the Scotland national rugby league team
Scotland national rugby league team
The Scotland national rugby league team represent Scotland in international rugby league football tournaments. The team is run under the auspices of the Scotland Rugby League, and are nicknamed The Bravehearts. Scotland are not regarded as a test nation...
from 1995 to 1997.
Fairbairn became only the second Scottish-born person after Andrew Hogg
Andrew Hogg (rugby league)
Andrew Hogg was a Scottish professional rugby league footballer of the 1900s who at representative level played for Great Britain, England, and Other Nations, and at club level for Broughton Rangers, playing at , i.e...
to play for the England national rugby league team
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
.
International honours
Fairbairn won caps for England while at Wigan in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup1975 Rugby League World Cup
The 1975 Rugby League World Cup was the seventh staging of rugby league football's World Cup tournament...
against Wales (2 matches), New Zealand (2 matches), Australia (2 matches), and France, and in 1975 against Papua New Guinea, in 1977 against Wales, and France, in 1978 against France, in 1980 against Wales, and France, in 1981 against France, and Wales, while at Hull K.R. in 1981 Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1977 Rugby League World Cup
1977 Rugby League World Cup
- Final standings :-Final:Great Britain were the underdogs going to the final, which was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground. They managed to dominate the possession, and it took a last minute try from Australia’s John Kolc to secure the Cup in front of 24,457 spectators.Australia: Graham Eadie;...
against France, New Zealand, and Australia (2 matches), in 1978 against Australia (3 matches), in 1979 against Australia (2 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches), in 1980 against New Zealand (2 matches), while at Hull K.R. in 1981 against France, and in 1982 against Australia (2 matches).
With 52 goals, George is 1st in the list of England's all-time goal scorers, with 118 points he is also 1st in the list of England's all-time point scorers.
Fairbairn played , i.e. number 1 in Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
’s 7-8 defeat to France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
in the friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo
Stadio Pierluigi Penzo
Stadio Pierluigi Penzo is a multi-use stadium in Venice, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of F.B.C. Unione Venezia. The stadium holds 10,500 people and is located on the island Sant'Elena. It is the only ground in Italy's top flights to which...
, Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
on 31 July 1982.
Testimonial match
George Fairbairn's Testimonial matchTestimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
at Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
took place in 1992.