League Cup (rugby league)

The League Cup was a knock-out competition for British rugby league football clubs between 1971 and 1996.[1]

League Cup
SportRugby league
Formerly known asPlayer's №6 Trophy
John Player Trophy
John Player Special Trophy
Regal Trophy
Instituted1971
Ceased1996
Countries United Kingdom (RFL)
 France
Last winnersWigan (1996)
Most titlesWigan (8 titles)

It was initially for professional clubs with the exception of two amateur teams who were finalists of the BARLA National Cup. However, in the latter seasons the cup was expanded to include leading amateur and French teams, the latter as a precursor to their inclusion in the Challenge Cup. The rounds were played during the early part of the season, with the final taking place usually in January. The tournament was regarded as much less prestigious than the Challenge Cup, and it was abandoned when Rugby League moved to be a summer sport.[2]

Although officially called the League Cup, the name of the competition was always referred to by its sponsorship name. The initial sponsors were the tobacco manufacturer John Player & Sons with Regal taking over in 1989 until the competition's end.[1] Over the years, the competition was known as the Player's №6 Trophy (1971–77), the John Player Trophy (1977–83) and the John Player Special Trophy (1983–89), before finally becoming the Regal Trophy in 1989.[1]

List of finals
Year Season Winners Score Runner-up Venue Date
Player's №6 Trophy
1971–72 1971–72 season Halifax 22–11 Wakefield Trinity Odsal, Bradford Saturday 22 January 1972
1972–73 1972–73 season Leeds 12–7 Salford Fartown Ground, Huddersfield Saturday 24 March 1973
1973–74 1973–74 season Warrington 27–16 Rochdale Hornets Central Park, Wigan Saturday 9 February 1974
1974–75 1974–75 season Bradford Northern 3–2 Widnes Wilderspool, Warrington Saturday 25 January 1975
1975–76 1975–76 season Widnes 19–13 Hull F.C. Headingley, Leeds Saturday 24 January 1976
1976–77 1976–77 season Castleford 25–15 Blackpool Borough The Willows, Salford Saturday 22 January 1977
1977–78 1977–78 season Warrington 9–4 Widnes Knowsley Road, St. Helens Saturday 28 January 1978
John Player Trophy
1978–79 1978–79 season Widnes 16–4 Warrington Knowsley Road, St. Helens Saturday 28 April 1979
1979–80 1979–80 season Bradford Northern 6–0 Widnes Station Road, Swinton Saturday 5 January 1980
1980–81 1980–81 season Warrington 12–5 Barrow Central Park, Wigan Saturday 24 January 1981
1981–82 1981–82 season Hull F.C. 12–4 Hull Kingston Rovers Headingley, Leeds Saturday 23 January 1982
1982–83 1982–83 season Wigan 15–4 Leeds Elland Road, Leeds Saturday 22 January 1983
John Player Special Trophy
1983–84 1983–84 season Leeds 18–10 Widnes Central Park, Wigan Saturday 14 January 1984
1984–85 1984–85 season Hull Kingston Rovers 12–0 Hull F.C. Boothferry Park, Hull Saturday 26 January 1985
1985–86 1985–86 season Wigan 11–8 Hull Kingston Rovers Elland Road, Leeds Saturday 11 January 1986
1986–87 1986–87 season Wigan 18–4 Warrington Burnden Park, Bolton Saturday 10 January 1987
1987–88 1987–88 season St. Helens 15–14 Leeds Central Park, Wigan Saturday 9 January 1988
1988–89 1988–89 season Wigan 12–6 Widnes Burnden Park, Bolton Saturday 7 January 1989
Regal Trophy
1989–90 1989–90 season Wigan 24–12 Halifax Headingley, Leeds Saturday 13 January 1990
1990–91 1990–91 season Warrington 12–2 Bradford Northern Headingley,Leeds Saturday 12 January 1991
1991–92 1991–92 season Widnes 24–0 Leeds Central Park, Wigan Saturday 11 January 1992
1992–93 1992–93 season Wigan 15–8 Bradford Northern Elland Road, Leeds Saturday 23 January 1993
1993–94 1993–94 season Castleford 33–2 Wigan Headingley, Leeds Saturday 22 January 1994
1994–95 1994–95 season Wigan 40–10 Warrington McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield Saturday 28 January 1995
1995–96 1995–96 season Wigan Warriors 25–16 St. Helens McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield Saturday 13 January 1996

See also

References
  1. "Regal Trophy". Rugby League Project.
  2. "Wigan RL History - 1995-96 Centenary Season". Wigan Warriors Rugby League.
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