George Fairbairn (born in Peebles) is a Scottish former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s, and coach of the 1980s and '90s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Wigan, winning the Man of Steel Award in 1980, and Hull Kingston Rovers, as a fullback or winger. Fairbairn then coached at representative level for Scotland, and at club level for Wigan, Hull Kingston Rovers, and Huddersfield. He retired as the England national rugby league team's top point scorer.
Fairbairn became only the second Scottish-born person after Andrew Hogg to play for the England national rugby league team. Fairbairn won caps for England while at Wigan in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup against Wales (2 matches), New Zealand (2 matches), Australia (2 matches), and France, and in 1975 against Papua New Guinea, in 1977 against Wales, and France, in 1978 against France, in 1980 against Wales, and France, in 1981 against France, and Wales, while at Hull Kingston Rovers in 1981 Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1977 Rugby League World Cup against France, New Zealand, and Australia (2 matches), in 1978 against Australia (3 matches), in 1979 against Australia (2 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches), in 1980 against New Zealand (2 matches), while at Hull Kingston Rovers in 1981 against France, and in 1982 against Australia (2 matches). With 52 goals, Fairbairn is second in the list of England's all-time goal scorers and with 118 points he is also second (behind Kevin Sinfield) in the list of England's all-time point scorers.
Fairbairn played Fullback, i.e. number 1 in Great Britain’s 7-8 defeat to France in the friendly at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo, Venice on Saturday 31 July 1982.
At the end of the 1979–80 Northern Rugby Football League season, Fairbairn received the Man of Steel Award for player of the season.
He was later a player-coach at Wigan for the 1980-81 season but was then sold as a player-coach to Hull Kingston Rovers for a record ₤72,500. George Fairbairn's Testimonial match at Hull Kingston Rovers took place in 1992.
Fairbairn also became coach of the Scotland national rugby league team from 1995 to 1997.
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