1971–72 John Player Cup

1971–1972 RFU National KO Competition
Tournament statistics
(Next) 1972-1973

The 1971-1972 National KO Competition was the first rugby union cup competition (for clubs) in England. Gloucester won the competition defeating Moseley in the final. In the final the Moseley lock Nigel Horton floored Dick Smith (the Gloucester openside) with a punch during the second scrum of the game and was sent off by Ron Lewis the referee. Moseley ended the game with just twelve men after their two flankers, Tim Smith and Ian Pringle, were both carried off injured.[1]

The RFU introduced this new challenge cup which quickly emerged as England’s premier Rugby Union club competition event. The final was held at Twickenham Stadium. The principal event for Rugby Union club players at this time had been the County Championship because there was no official league table for clubs.[2]

Draw and Results

First Round

Team One Team Two Score Notes
Birkenhead Park Wigton 13-9
Coventry Birmingham 11-4
London Scottish Harlequins 4-18
London Welsh Oxford 30-6
Moseley Northampton 25-12
Nottingham Leicester 10-3
Rugby Bedford 12-17
Saracens London Irish 26-3
Sidcup Blackheath 3-30
West Hartlepool Headingley 17-10
Wilmslow Liverpool 14-6

Second Round

Team One Team Two Score Notes
Birkenhead Park Wilmslow 0-6
Exeter Penryn 10-10* (* away team progress)
Gloucester Bristol 15-4
Halifax West Hartlepool 8-0
Harlequins Blackheath 12-4
Moseley Bedford 16-9
Nottingham Coventry 3-30
Saracens London Welsh 7-33

Quarter Finals

Team One Team Two Score Notes
Harlequins Wilmslow 7-16
London Welsh Gloucester 4-9
Moseley Halifax 22-0
Penryn Coventry 4-28

Semi Finals

Team One Team Two Score Notes
Coventry Gloucester 6-6* (away team progress)
Moseley Wilmslow 18-10

Final

29 April 1972
Gloucester 17 - 6 Moseley
Try: John Dix
Roy Morris
Pen: Eric Stephens
Drop: Tom Palmer
Mickie Booth
Try: Malcolm Swain
Con: Sam Doble
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 10,500
Referee: Ron Lewis (Wales)
1 Eric Stephens
2 Bob Clewes
3 Roy Morris
4 John Bayliss
5 John Dix
6 Tom Palmer
7 Mickie Booth
8 Robin Cowling
9 Mike Nicholls (c)
10 Mike Burton
11 Alan Brinn
12 Jim Jarrett
13 John Watkins
14 Mike Potter
15 Dick Smith
1 Sam Doble
2 Keith Hatter
3 Malcolm Swain
4 Colin McFadyean
5 R Kerr
6 John Finlan
7 Jan Webster (c)
8 J Griffiths
9 Don Lane
10 Chris Morrell
11 R Morris
12 Nigel Horton
13 Tim Smith
14 J White
15 Ian Pringle

References

  1. Jenkins, Vivian (1975). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook. Brickfield Publications Ltd. ISBN 0362-00221-5.
  2. "Times Archives". Oxfordshire Libraries.
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