George Fairbairn (born in Peebles) 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 to Hull KR for a record ₤72,000. Fairburn also became coach of the Scotland national rugby league team from 1995 to 1997.

[edit] International Honours

George 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, 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).^[1]

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.

Only eight players have ever scored drop goals for England, they are; John Keith Bridges (1), George Fairbairn (1), Bobbie Goulding (1), Sean Long (1), Martin Offiah (1), Harry Pinner (2), Alan Redfearn (1), and Nigel Wright (1).^[2]

George Fairbairn played Fullback, 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.

[edit] Testimonial match

George Fairbairn's Testimonial match at Hull Kingston Rovers took place in 1982.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• George Fairbairn at rlhalloffame.org.uk
• George Fairbairn at wiganwarriors.com
• International Statistics at englandrl.co.uk
• Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org

v • d • e England squad - 1975 Rugby League World Cup ☼ (3/9) Michael "Mick" Adams • (4/9) John Atkinson • ☼ (1/9) Harry Beverley• ☼ (7/9) John Keith Bridges • (1/9) Paul Charlton • (3/9) David "Dave" Chisnall • (3/9) Eric Chisnall • (2/9) Philip "Phil" Cookson • (2/9) Michael "Mike" Coulman • ☼ (5/9) Gerald "Ged" Dunn • ☼ (1/9) Ray Dutton • (6/9) Leslie "Les" Dyl • (2/9) David "Dave" Eckersley • (7/9) George Fairbairn • ☼ (1/9) Stanley "Stan" Fearnley • (6/9) Keith Fielding • (3/9) Colin Forsyth • ☼ (9/9) Ken Gill • (0/9) Parry Gordon • (1/9) John Gray • ☼ (5/9) Jeff Grayshon • (4/9) Brian Hogan • (4/9) John Holmes • ☼ (5/9) Eric Hughes • (3/9) Robert "Bob" Irving • (1/9) Philip "Phil" Jackson • (2/9) Thomas "Tommy" Martyn • ☼ (8/9) Roger Millward (c) • (4/9) Michael "Mick" Morgan • (3/9) Steve Nash • (7/9) George Nicholls • (2/9) Derek Noonan • (7/9) Steve 'Knocker' Norton • (1/9) Barry Philbin • (1/9) David "Dave" Redfearn • ☼ (1/9) Alan Smith • ☼ (1/9) Nigel Stephenson • ☼ (2/9) James "Jimmy" Thompson • (2/9) John Walsh • (1/9) Stuart Wright Coaches: William "Bill" Oxley Coach Alex Murphy (7/9), e.g. The Number of Games Played in the 1975 World Cup. ☼=Played in Final.

v • d • e Great Britain squad - 1977 Rugby League World Cup ☼ (4/4) Edward "Eddie" Bowman • ☼ (3/4) Leonard "Len" Casey • ☼ (4/4) Leslie "Les" Dyl • ☼ (1/4) Keith Elwell • ☼ (4/4) George Fairbairn • (2/4) Keith Fielding • ☼ (3/4) Bill Francis • ☼ (2/4) Ken Gill • ☼ (4/4) Philip "Phil" Hogan • ☼ (4/4) John Holmes • ☼ (4/4) Roger Millward • ☼ (4/4) Stephen "Steve" Nash • (3/4) George Nicholls • ☼ (4/4) Stephen "Steve" Pitchford • ☼ (2/4) Peter Smith • ☼ (4/4) James “Jimmy” Thompson • (3/4) David Ward • ☼ (4/4) Stuart Wright Coach: David Watkins (2/4), e.g. The Number of Games Played in the 1977 World Cup. ☼=Played in Final.