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Doug Laughton

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Charles Douglas Laughton
Born
Saturday, 13th May, 1944
Died
Sunday, 16th March, 2025 (Aged 80 years and 307 days)
Place Of Birth
Widnes, Cheshire, England

Competitions Won

The Ashes
1970
Test Series
1970 New Zealand vs Great Britain
English Championship
1977/78

Honours & Awards

Man Of Steel Award
1979

Biography

Great Britain Test forward (1970 Ashes-winning tour) started his career with St Helens before signing with Wigan in 1967. Laughton linked with Widnes in 1973, where he made his Test debut in the Third Test against the Kangaroos. He was offered the captaincy of the 1974 Lions but signed with C’bury instead. He then walked out on the club mid-way through the 1974 season after being sacked as first grade captain (the Bulldogs went on to make the grand final without him). Laughton returned to Australia as captain of the 1979 Lions (disparagingly named 'Dad's Army') which is remembered as the first Great Britain team not to win a Test match in Australia. As a single-minded chief executive of English club Widnes Laughton later garnered criticism concerning his treatment of Australian club players in England.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
Representative Career - International   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Tests (Senior International Matches) - 16 - 16 7-7 - - - - 21 - - - 10 6 - 62.50% List
The Ashes 1 5 - 5 1-1 - - - - 3 - - - 2 3 - 40.00% List
World Cup - 4 - 4 1-1 - - - - 3 - - - 3 1 - 75.00% List
Tour Matches Wigan WarriorsWIG - 2 - 2 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 1 50.00% List
Tour Matches Great BritainGBR - 22 1 23 10-10 - - - - 30 - - - 18 4 1 78.26% List
Tour Matches Widnes VikingsWID - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Test Series 2 7 - 7 4-4 - - - - 12 - - - 4 3 - 57.14% List
European Championship - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Club Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - 5 - 5 --- - - - - - - - - 1 4 - 20.00% List
Midweek Cup - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Overall   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  37 1 38 12-12 - - - - 36 - - - 26 10 2 68.42% List

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Great Britain 1970-71, 1973-74, 1979   15 - 15 7-7 - - - - 21 - - - 10 5 - 66.67% List
England 1977   1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Great Britain 1970   4 - 4 1-1 - - - - 3 - - - 3 1 - 75.00% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
CanterburyCanterbury 19741974 NSWRFL   5 - 5--- - - - - - - - - 1 4 - 20.00% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Canterbury 1974   5 - 5 --- - - - - - - - - 1 4 - 20.00% List

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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Max Turner, Rugby League Tables, Alan Katzmann, Bill Bates

Sources: Widnes RLFC History , RFL Player Registers