George Fairbairn (rugby)
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Full name | George Alexander Fairbairn[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Peebles, Scottish Borders, Scotland | 25 July 1954||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Position | Full back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Position | Fullback, Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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George Fairbairn (born 25 July 1954) is a Scottish former
Fairbairn retired as England's top point scorer in test football.[5] In September 2012, he was named in Hull Kingston Rovers' greatest ever team.[6]
Background
Born in Peebles, Scotland, and raised in Coldstream, Scotland.
Playing career
Wigan
In 1974, he changed
He won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1977 Rugby League World Cup against France, New Zealand, and 2 matches against Australia including the 13–12 World Cup final loss at the Sydney Cricket Ground. During the first half of the Final, a dropped ball by Fairbairn after a Lions scrum win saw Australian centre Russel Gartner race away for a 60-metre try.[8] He also played for England in 1977 against Wales, and France.
Fairbairn played in all three tests for Great Britain in 1978 against the
George Fairbairn played fullback and scored a try and two conversions in Wigan's 10–26 defeat by Warrington in the 1980–81 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1980–81 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens, on Saturday 4 October 1980.
At the end of the
Fairbairn was appointed as a
Hull Kingston Rovers
While at Hull Kingston Rovers Fairbairn played for England in 1981 against France and Wales. He also played for Great Britain in 1981 against France and in 1982 against the
With 52 goals, Fairbairn is second in the list of England's all-time goal scorers and with 118 points he is also second (behind Kevin Sinfield) in the list of England's all-time point scorers.
In 1982, Fairbairn played for Hull KR is their 30–10 defeat by Australia as part of their
In October 1983, Fairbairn played fullback for Hull KR in their 8–6 victory over the
George Fairbairn played fullback in Hull KR's 14–15 defeat by Castleford in the 1985–86 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London, on Saturday 3 May 1986, in front of a crowd of 82,134.
He then played in Hull KR's 12–29 defeat by Hull F.C. in the 1984–85 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1984–85 season at Boothferry Park in Hull, on Saturday 27 October 1984, and played fullback, (replaced by John Lydiat) in the 22–18 victory over Castleford in the 1985–86 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1985–86 season at Headingley in Leeds on Sunday 27 October 1985.
Fairbairn played and scored two conversions in Hull KR's 4–12 defeat by Hull F.C. in the
In 1986, Fairbairn played for Hull KR is their 46–10 defeat by Australia as part of their
Coaching career
George Fairbairn's Testimonial match at Hull Kingston Rovers took place in 1992. Fairbairn also became coach of the Scotland national rugby league team from 1995 to 1997.[citation needed]
Honours
Club
- Rugby League Championship Winner - 1984, 1985 (Runner Up 1975, 1983)
- Challenge Cup Runner Up - 1986
- John Player Trophy Winner - 1985 (Runner Up 1982)
- Premiership Trophy Winner - 1984 (Runner Up 1985)
- Yorkshire Cup Winner - 1985 (Runner Up 1984)
- Second Division Championship Winner - 1981, 1990
- Lancashire Cup Runner Up - 1980
International
- Rugby League World Cup Runner Up - 1977
Individual
- Man Of Steel - 1980
- Open Rugby World XIII: 1980, January 1981[9]
References
- ISBN 978-0-7524-3470-4.
- ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Player Summary: George Fairbairn". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- Herald Scotland. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ^ "Fairbairn named as greatest ever fullback". Hull Kingston Rovers RLFC. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ "Statistics at wigan.rlfans.com". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ 1977 World Cup final highlights
- ^ "A complete history of the World XIII". Total Rugby League. 20 March 2018. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
External links
- (archived by web.archive.org) George Fairbairn at rlhalloffame.org.uk
- Statistics at wigan.rlfans.com