1990–91 Rugby Football League season
Introduction The '''1990–91 Rugby Football League season''' was the 96th ever season of professional rugby league football in Britain. Fourteen teams competed from August, 1990 until May, 1991 for the Stones Bitter Championship, Premiership Trophy and Silk Cut Challenge Cup.
Season summary ===Overview===* '''First Division''':  Wigan* '''Second Division''':  Salford* '''Premiership''':  Hull F.C. *'''Divisional Premiership''':  Salford* '''Challenge Cup''':  Wigan*'''League Cup''':  Warrington===Summary===Bradford Northern player Simon Tuffs tested positive for amphetamines, and was the first time a failed drugs test involving a rugby league player had been made public since random testing had been introduced by the RFL in 1987.He received a two-year suspension, but the ban was lifted following an appeal.Due to a fixture backlog, Wigan, who were challenging for the league championship title, were forced to play their final eight league games within 19 days, a task described as "Mission Impossible" by coach John Monie. The club managed to win seven out of eight games to retain the title.In April 1991, clubs approved a new three division format to be used from the start of the 1991–92 season. The Championship would remain a 14 team league, while the Second Division would consist of eight teams and the new Third Division would have 14 teams.
League tables Wigan retained their title this season, relegated were Oldham, Sheffield Eagles and Rochdale Hornets, to date this is Rochdale Hornets's last appearance in the top flight.===First Division======Second Division===
Kangaroo Tour The months of October and November also saw the appearance of the Australian team in England on their 1990 Kangaroo Tour. Other than the three test Ashes series against Great Britain (won 2–1 by Australia), The Kangaroos played and won matches against 8 Championship teams (St Helens, Wakefield Trinity, Wigan, Leeds, Warrington, Castleford, Hull and Widnes), 1 Second Division side (Halifax) and one county side (Cumbria). The team was coached by 1973 tourist and 1978 tour captain Bob Fulton and was captained by Mal Meninga who was making his third Kangaroo Tour as a player.Penrith Panthers halfback Greg Alexander (who played most of the tour as the backup fullback to Gary Belcher), was the leading point scorer on the tour with 156 from 14 tries and 50 goals. Like Terry Lamb on the 1986 tour, Alexander was selected for every match on the tour, but he did not get off the bench in the 2nd Ashes Test at Old Trafford. Cronulla-Sutherland outside back Andrew Ettingshausen was the leading try scorer with 15 including hat-tricks against St Helens in the tour opener and Wigan a week later.Great Britain's win in the first test at Wembley was the Lions first test win on home soil over Australia since 5 November 1978.It was the Kangaroos only loss of the tour. game  Date  Result  Venue  Attendance1  7 October   Australia def. St Helens 34–4  Knowsley Road, St Helens  15,2192  10 October   Australia def. Wakefield Trinity 36–18  Belle Vue, Wakefield  7,7243  14 October   Australia def. Wigan 34–6  Central Park, Wigan  24,8144  17 October   Australia def. Cumbria 42–10  Derwent Park, Workington  6,7505  21 October   Australia def. Leeds 22–10  Headingley, Leeds  16,0376  27 October   def. 19–12  Wembley Stadium, London  54,5697  31 October   Australia def. Warrington 26–6  Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington  10,2008  4 November   Australia def. Castleford 28–8  Wheldon Road, Castleford  9,0339  6 November   Australia def. Halifax 36–18  Thrum Hall, Halifax  8,73010  10 November   def. 14–10  Old Trafford, Manchester  46,61511  14 November   Australia def. Hull F.C. 34–4  The Boulevard, Hull  13,08112  18 November   Australia def. Widnes 15–8  Naughton Park, Widnes  14,66613  24 November   def. 14–0  Elland Road, Leeds  32,500
References
Sources * 1990–91 Rugby Football League season at wigan.rlfans.com* Great Britain Competitions 1990-1991 at hunterlink.net.au