The 1979–80 Thorn EMI Rugby Union County Championship was the 80th edition of England's County Championship rugby union club competition.
Lancashire won their 11th title after defeating Gloucestershire in the final.
First round Pos Northern Division P W D L F A Pts 1 Lancashire 5 5 0 0 210 42 102 Northumberland 5 4 0 1 109 56 83 Yorkshire 5 3 0 2 60 49 64 Durham 5 1 1 3 39 101 35 Cheshire 5 1 0 4 63 97 26 Cumberland & Westmorland 5 0 1 4 31 158 2 Pos Midlands Group A P W D L F A Pts 1 North Midlands 2 2 0 0 47 16 42 East Midlands 2 1 0 1 27 41 23 Notts, Lincs & Derby 2 0 0 2 16 33 0 Pos Midlands Group B P W D L F A Pts 1 Warwickshire 2 2 0 0 50 22 42 Staffordshire 21 0 1 37 36 23 Leicestershire 2 0 0 2 24 53 0 Pos London Group A P W D L F A Pts 1 Surrey 2 2 0 0 33 29 42 Middlesex 2 1 0 1 33 25 23 Kent 2 0 0 2 37 49 0 Pos London Group B P W D L F A Pts 1 Eastern Counties 3 2 0 1 71 26 42 Sussex 3 2 0 1 50 22 43 Hampshire 3 1 0 2 25 46 24 Hertfordshire 3 1 0 2 22 74 2 Pos South-West Division P W D L F A Pts 1 Gloucestershire 3 2 0 1 40 36 42 Devon 3 2 0 1 44 40 43 Somerset 3 1 1 1 43 40 34 Cornwall 3 0 1 2 35 46 1 Pos Southern Division P W D L F A Pts 1 Oxfordshire 3 3 0 0 43 18 62 Buckinghamshire 3 1 0 2 43 42 23 Dorset & Wilts 3 1 0 2 25 39 24 Berkshire 3 1 0 2 19 31 2
Second round Venue Team One Team Two Score Moseley North MidlandsWarwickshire 13-7 Woodford Surrey Eastern Counties 26-6 Oxford Oxfordshire Gloucestershire 10-36
Semi finals Date Venue Team One Team Two Score 8 Dec Moseley North Midlands Gloucestershire17-21 9 Dec Old Deer Park Surrey Lancashire6-31
Final
15 Kevin O'Brien Broughton Park 14 John Carleton Orrell13 Tony Wright Sale 12 P Phillips Orrell 11 Mike Slemen Liverpool 10 Peter Williams Orrell 9 Steve Smith Sale 1 Dave Tabern Fylde2 Colin Fisher Waterloo 3 Fran Cotton Sale 4 Bill Beaumont (capt) Fylde 5 Jim Syddall Waterloo6 Roger Creed Sale 7 Tony Neary Broughton Park 8 Laurie Connor WaterlooReplacements: J Heaton Orrell T S K Aitcheson Fylde D J Carfoot Waterloo T Simon Sale K Pacey Broughton Park T Morris LiverpoolCoach: Des Seabrook 15 Peter Butler Gloucester 14 Bob Clewes Gloucester13 Richard Mogg Gloucester12 Alastair Hignell Bristol 11 Alan Morley Bristol10 Dave Sorrell Bristol9 Peter Kingston Gloucester 1 Gordon Sargent Gloucester2 Steve Mills Gloucester 3 Phil Blakeway Gloucester 4 John Fidler Gloucester 5 Nigel Pomphrey Bristol 6 Mike Rafter (capt) Bristol 7 P A Wood Gloucester 8 Bob Hesford BristolReplacements: M Priddy Gloucester F Reed Gloucester S Boyle Gloucester P Johnson Clifton B Russell Gloucester S Baker Gloucester
See also English rugby union system Rugby union in England
References