1980–81 Rugby Football League season

The 1980–81 Rugby Football League season was the 86th season of professional rugby league football in Britain. Sixteen teams competed from August 1980 until May 1981 for the Slalom Lager Championship.

1980–81 Rugby Football League season
LeagueSlalom Lager Championship
Teams16
Champions Bradford Northern
Premiership winners Hull Kingston Rovers
Man of Steel Award Ken Kelly
Top point-scorer(s) Steve Hesford 310
Top try-scorer(s) Terry Richardson 28
Promotion and relegation
Promoted from Second Division York
Wigan
Fulham
Whitehaven
Relegated to Second Division Halifax
Salford
Workington Town
Oldham
Second Division
Champions York
Top try-scorer(s) John Crossley Jr. 35

Season summary

For the only time in their history, Wigan competed outside the top flight of Rugby League in this season. Fulham RLFC joined the competition in Division Two, later becoming the London Crusaders, London Broncos (twice), and Harlequins Rugby League.

Bradford Northern finished on top of the First Division table to claim their second championship, and Hull Kingston Rovers won the Rugby League Premiership competition.

Warrington beat Wigan 26–10 to win the Lancashire County Cup, and Leeds beat Hull Kingston Rovers 8–7 to win the Yorkshire County Cup.

League Tables

Challenge Cup
Main article: 1980–81 Challenge Cup

The 1980-81 State Express Challenge Cup was won by Widnes after defeating Hull Kingston Rovers 18-9 in the final.

The Final was played at Wembley before a crowd of 92,496.

League Cup
Main article: 1980–81 League Cup (rugby league)

Premiership
Main article: 1980–81 Rugby League Premiership

New Zealand Kiwis Tour
Main article: 1980 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France

September until November also saw the appearance of the New Zealand team in England on their 1980 tour. Other than the three test series against Great Britain, The Kiwis played matches club and county sides.

The 1980 Kiwis were coached by Ces Mountford and were captained by Mark Graham.

Dane O'Hara, who would join Hull F.C. following the tour was the leading try scorer with 6. Scrum half Gordon Smith (who would join Hull Kingston Rovers in 1982) was the tours leading point scorer with 33 from 1 try and 15 goals.

gameDateResultVenueAttendance
128 September New Zealand def. Blackpool Borough 23–5Borough Park, Blackpool1,312
25 October New Zealand def. Hull F.C. 33–10Boothferry Park, Kingston upon Hull15,945
38 October Cumbria def. New Zealand 9–3Recreation Ground, Whitehaven4,070
412 October St Helens def. New Zealand 11–6Knowsley Road, St Helens6,000
514 October Bradford Northern def. New Zealand 15–10Odsal Stadium, Bradford4,553
618 October Great Britain drew with  New Zealand 14–14Central Park, Wigan7,031
722 October New Zealand def. Hull Kingston Rovers 20–12Craven Park, Kingston upon Hull9,516
826 October New Zealand def. Leeds 25–5Headingley, Leeds5,662
929 October Warrington def. New Zealand 13–6Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington5,680
102 November New Zealand def.  Great Britain 12–8Odsal Stadium, Bradford10,946
115 November New Zealand def. Great Britain U/24 18–14Craven Cottage, London2,397
129 November Widnes def. New Zealand 13–7Naughton Park, Widnes6,416
1311 November New Zealand def. Leigh 22–5Hilton Park, Leigh3,166
1415 November Great Britain def.  New Zealand 10–2Elland Road, Leeds8,210

Sources
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