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George Fairbairn (rugby)

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George Fairbairn
Personal information
Full nameGeorge Alexander Fairbairn[1]
BornPeebles, Peeblesshire, Scotland
Playing information
Rugby union
PositionFull back
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
197?–74 Kelso
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
197?–7? Borders
Rugby league
PositionFullback, Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1974–81 Wigan 207 30 583 11 1267
1981–89 Hull KR 269 49 549 19 1290
Total 476 79 1132 30 2557
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1975–81 England 16 5 51 1 118
1977–82 Great Britain 17 1 44 0 91
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1980–81 Wigan
1991–94 Hull KR
1994–95 Huddersfield
Total 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1995–97 Scotland
Source: [1], [2], [3]

George Fairbairn is a Scottish former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s, and coach of the 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Wigan, winning the Man of Steel Award in 1980, and Hull Kingston Rovers, as a fullback or winger. Fairbairn then coached at representative level for Scotland, and at club level for Wigan, Hull Kingston Rovers, and Huddersfield. He retired as the England national rugby league team's top point scorer.[2] In September 2012, he was named in Hull KR's greatest ever team.[3]

Background

Born in Peebles, Scotland, Fairbairn started his career playing rugby union for Kelso RFC.

Professional playing career

Wigan

In 1974, he moved to England to play rugby league for Wigan. Fairbairn became only the second Scottish-born person after Andrew Hogg to play for the England national rugby league team. Fairbairn won caps for England while at Wigan in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup against Wales (2 matches), New Zealand (2 matches), Australia (2 matches), and France, and in 1975 against Papua New Guinea. He won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1977 Rugby League World Cup against France, New Zealand, and Australia (2 matches). He also played for England in 1977 against Wales, and France. Fairbairn played for Great Britain in 1978 against Australia (3 matches). He also played for England in 1978 against France. He played for Great Britain in 1979 against Australia (2 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches).

George Fairbairn played Fullback, scored a try and 2-conversions in Wigan's 10–26 defeat by Warrington in the 1980 Lancashire Cup final during the 1980–81 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens, on Saturday 4 October 1980.

At the end of the 1979–80 Northern Rugby Football League season, despite Wigan's relegation to the second division, Fairbairn received the Man of Steel Award for player of the season. Fairbairn played for England in 1980 against Wales, and France, and for Great Britain in 1980 against New Zealand (2 matches). Fairbairn was appointed as a player-coach at Wigan for the 1980–81 season, helping the club win promotion back to the first division. After the club's coaching duties were given to Maurice Bamford at the end of the season, Fairbairn requested a transfer, and was sold to Hull Kingston Rovers for a record fee of £72,500.

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. He also played for Great Britain in 1982 against Australia (2 matches).[4] Fairbairn played Fullback, i.e. number 1 in Great Britain's 7–8 defeat by France in the friendly at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo, Venice on Saturday 31 July 1982.[5] 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.

George Fairbairn played Fullback in Hull Kingston Rovers' 12–29 defeat by Hull in the 1984 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1984–85 season at Boothferry Park, Kingston upon Hull, on Saturday 27 October 1984, and played Fullback, (replaced by Interchange/Substitute John Lydiat) in the 22–18 victory over Castleford in the 1984 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1984–85 season at Headingley, Leeds, on Sunday 27 October 1985.

George Fairbairn played Fullback, and scored 2-conversions in Hull Kingston Rovers' 4-12 defeat by Hull in the 1981–82 John Player Trophy final during the 1981–82 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 23 January 1982, and played Fullback in the 12-0 victory over Hull in the 1984–85 John Player Special Trophy final during the 1984–85 season at Boothferry Park, Kingston upon Hull on Saturday 26 January 1985.

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.

References

  1. ^ Morris, Graham (2005). Wigan Rugby League Football Club: 100 Greats. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-7524-3470-4.
  2. ^ Willacy, Gavin (26 October 2012). "The Borders full-back who moved south to take rugby league by storm". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Fairbairn named as greatest ever fullback". Hull Kingston Rovers RLFC. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  4. ^ "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
Achievements
Preceded by Rugby league transfer record
Wigan to Hull Kingston Rovers
1981–1985 		Succeeded by
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