1981–82 Rugby Football League season


The 1981–82 Rugby Football League season was the 87th ever season of professional rugby league football in Britain. Sixteen teams competed from August, 1981 until May, 1982 for the Championship.

Season summary

Leigh finished on top of the First Division table to claim their second and, to date, last championship, but Widnes won the Rugby League Premiership competition. Fulham, Wakefield Trinity, York and Whitehaven were demoted to the Second Division. Oldham, Carlisle, Workington Town and Halifax were promoted to the First Division.
Cardiff City Blue Dragons and Carlisle joined the competition in Division Two.
Leigh beat Widnes 8–3 to win the Lancashire County Cup, and Castleford beat Bradford Northern 10–5 to win the Yorkshire County Cup.

League Tables

Championship

Final Standings
TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1 Leigh302415572343+22949
2 Hull302316611273+33847
3 Widnes302316551317+23447
4 Hull Kingston Rovers302217554319+23545
5 Bradford Northern3017112425332+9341
6 Leeds3017112514418+9635
7 St. Helens3017112465415+5035
8 Warrington3014214403468+6530
9 Barrow3013017408445-3726
10 Featherstone Rovers3012117482493-1125
11 Wigan3012018424435-1124
12 Castleford3010119486505-1921
13Fulham309120365539-17419
14 Wakefield Trinity309120341526-18519
15 York304224330773-44310
16 Whitehaven302325224565-3417

Second Division

ClubPWDLPFPAPts
1Oldham32300273427660
2Carlisle32280464929656
3Workington Town32240877731148
4Halifax322201051634044
5Salford322011165643341
6Hunslet321811348145237
7Keighley321801451442636
8Cardiff321711456654935
9Dewsbury321601635746432
10Swinton321501751441830
11Huddersfield321311837052327
12Bramley321301938151326
13Rochdale Hornets321012136148421
14Batley32802435759616
15Blackpool Borough32702534160814
16Doncaster32512631979311
17Huyton32502729670710

Champions Play-offs Promoted Relegated

Challenge Cup

The 1981-82 State Express Challenge Cup was won by Hull F.C. after defeating Widnes 18-9 in the final after a replay.
The Final was played at Wembley before a crowd of 92,147 and ended in a 14-14 draw. The replay was played at Elland Road before a crowd of 41,171.

League Cup

Premiership