The 1978–79 John Player Cup was the eighth edition of England's premier rugby union club competition at the time. Leicester won the competition defeating Moseley in the final.[1] The event was sponsored by John Player cigarettes and the final was held at Twickenham Stadium.[2]
Draw and results
First round
| Team one
|
Team two
|
Score
|
| Esher |
Gosforth |
3-38
|
| Leicester |
Northampton |
29-3
|
| Broughton Park |
Orrell |
12-9
|
| Exeter |
London Scottish |
15-11
|
| Gloucester |
Richmond |
3-3*
|
| Harlequins |
Plymouth Albion |
21-9
|
| Hartlepool Rovers |
Walsall |
13-0
|
| Havant |
Rosslyn Park |
0-19
|
| Ipswich |
Matson |
6-14
|
| London Irish |
Avon & Somerset Police |
32-7
|
| Wasps |
Blackheath |
11-0
|
| Moseley |
Liverpool |
22-13
|
| Rugby |
Coventry |
12-29
|
| Wakefield |
Bedford |
12-27
|
| Birkenhead Park |
Sale |
9-6
|
| London Welsh |
Bath |
28-18
|
Progressed as away team*
Second round
| Team one
|
Team two
|
Score
|
| Gosforth |
Harlequins |
9-3
|
| Leicester |
Broughton Park |
30-7
|
| Richmond |
Matson |
22-3
|
| Rosslyn Park |
Exeter |
7-6
|
| Wasps |
Hartlepool Rovers |
10-6
|
| Bedford |
Birkenhead Park |
16-8
|
| London Irish |
Moseley |
0-10
|
| London Welsh |
Coventry |
21-3
|
Quarter-finals
| Team one
|
Team two
|
Score
|
| Bedford |
Leicester |
12-22
|
| Wasps |
London Welsh |
6-3
|
| Gosforth |
Rosslyn Park |
7-3
|
| Moseley |
Richmond |
27-3
|
Semi-finals
| Team one
|
Team two
|
Score
|
| Gosforth |
Moseley |
3-6
|
| Wasps |
Leicester |
7-43
|
Final
[3]
|
|
|
|
|
15 |
Richard Akenhead
|
|
14 |
Alan Thomas
|
|
13 |
Malcolm Swain
|
|
12 |
Barrie Corless
|
|
11 |
Bob Laird
|
|
10 |
Martin Cooper (c)
|
|
9 |
Chris Gifford
|
|
8 |
Derek Nutt
|
|
7 |
Nick Jeavons
|
|
6 |
Russ Field
|
|
5 |
Barry Ayre
|
|
4 |
John Beale
|
|
3 |
Kevin Astley
|
|
2 |
Gary Cox
|
|
1 |
Bert Greaves
|
| Replacements:
|
|
16 |
Andy Watson-Jones for Corless (30m)
|
|
17 |
Steve King for Nutt (50m)
|
| Coach:
|
|
References