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.
Season summary Bradford Northern won the Championship for the second consecutive season.
York won the Second Division, finishing ahead of Wigan who competed outside the top flight for the first time. Fulham joined the competition in Division Two, being promoted in their first season.
Hull Kingston Rovers won the Premiership.
First Division
Second Division
Premiership
Statistics The following are the top points scorers in all competitions in the 1980–81 season.
Most tries Player Team Tries John Crossley York 35 Terry Richardson Castleford 28 Steve Hubbard Hull Kingston Rovers 25 Steve Hartley Hull Kingston Rovers 23 Paul McDermott York 23 Ian Slater Huddersfield 23 Des Drummond Leigh 20 Ian Ball Barrow 19 John Bevan Warrington 19 Peter Cramp Huddersfield 19 Gary Hyde Castleford 19 Dennis Ramsdale Wigan 19
Most goals (including drop goals) Player Team Goals Steve Hesford Warrington 186 Steve Quinn Featherstone Rovers 158 Steve Diamond Wakefield Trinity 152 Mick Burke Widnes 150 Steve Hubbard Hull Kingston Rovers 144 Ian Ball Barrow 142 Jimmy Birts Halifax 135 Graham Beale Keighley 131 Mick Parrish Oldham 127 George Fairbairn Wigan 126
Notes
Sources
1980-81 Rugby Football League season at wigan.rlfans.com