Tributes have been paid to legendary former Widnes player and coach Doug Laughton, who has passed away at the age of 80.
Laughton lifted the Challenge Cup as captain for his hometown club in 1975 and was coach when the club won consecutive league titles and won the World Club Challenge against Canberra Raiders, building a team around the likes of Jonathan Davies and Martin Offiah.
He was part of the last Great Britain side to win a series against Australia back in 1970, where he won three of his 15 international caps.
As well as his spells at Widnes, Laughton played for St Helens and Wigan, as well as having a spell as coach of Leeds, who he led to consecutive Challenge Cup finals in the 1990s.
Farewell Doug Laughton
During a time of rapid change, he was the last great old school rugby league coach
The last Brit to win a comp first past the post, he created THE most exciting attacking team in a generation – and brought an unknown winger called Offiah up North
pic.twitter.com/cyHbJTCviP
— Tides of History (@labour_history) March 16, 2025
Former players share their tributes to Doug Laughton
Martin Offiah paid tribute: “I owe him so much for the opportunity he gave me to switch from rugby union with Widnes, and to create a legacy in Rugby League. Thank you Dougie.”
Jonathan Davies added: “Very sad news. He saw something in me and gave me the opportunity and confidence to play League. I experienced great times and made many friends which Doug Laughton was one of. A funny larger than life charming man. Thank you.”
Jim Mills: “So saddened that my great friend and old teammate at Widnes Dougie Laughton has passed away. Dougie was a great forward and was in the Great Britain team that won the Ashes in Australia in 1970 it was Dougie and I that travelled down to Wales to sign Jonathan Davies in 1989.”
John Devereux: “Such sad news I heard today from the Widnes Community that Dougie Laughton the man that signed me and so many more ex Union players and built a team at Widnes that won the World Club Championship. Thank you Doug it was the best time of my career playing up north.”
Karl Fitzpatrick, Warrington CEO: “Some people come into your life like an asteroid—colliding with you and sending you on a completely new trajectory. Dougie Laughton was one of those people for me. He set me on the path to professional Rugby League, showing up at my house when I was 14 to get me to sign for Widnes. That was 30 years ago, and I’m still involved in the game.”
Laughton played for Widnes in the 1976 and 1977 Challenge Cup finals, and was player-coach for the 1979 victory over Wakefield and coach for the 1981 triumph over Hull KR, as Widnes enjoyed a prolific period as cup kings. As well as two league titles and the World title, he won six Premiership finals as Widnes coach, three in each of his first two stints in charge.
He had three spells as coach, between 1978-83, 1986-91 and 1995-97, and as a player was the 1979 Man of Steel.
In the governing body’s tribute to Laughton, RFL chief executive Tony Sutton said: “On behalf of the RFL and the wider sport, we send condolences to Doug’s family and friends, and pay tribute to the impact he made on Rugby League, both as a player and a coach.
“He led Widnes, his hometown club, to some of the greatest moments in their history, and without Doug Laughton, we might never have seen Martin Offiah, Jonathan Davies or so many others playing Rugby League, for club and country. That is quite a legacy.”
Click here to read the club’s obituary
