Eric Hughes

Eric Hughes is an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, '70s and '80s, and coach of the 1980s and '90s, playing at representative level for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Widnes, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, St. Helens, and Rochdale Hornets, as a Wing, Centre, or Stand-off/Five-eighth, i.e. number 2 or 5, or, 3 or 4, or 6, and coaching at club level for Widnes, Rochdale Hornets, St. Helens, Leigh, and Wigan Warriors. He unwittingly added confusion to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs team as he was unrelated but played at the same time as the three Hughes brothers Garry, Graeme and Mark.

International honours

Eric Hughes won caps for England while at Widnes in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup against Wales, France, New Zealand, Australia (sub), Australia, in 1977 against France, in 1978 against France, and Wales, and in 1979 against Wales, and France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Widnes in 1978 against Australia, in 1979 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches), and in 1982 against Australia.

Challenge Cup final appearances

Eric Hughes played Stand-off/Five-eighth in Widnes' 14–7 victory over Warrington in the 1975 Challenge Cup final during the 1974–75 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 10 May 1975, played Centre, i.e. number 3 in the 5–20 defeat by St. Helens in the 1976 Challenge Cup final during the 1975–76 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 8 May 1976, and played Stand-off/Five-eighth in the 7–16 defeat by Leeds in the 1977 Challenge Cup final during the 1976–77 at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 7 May 1977, an played in the 7–16 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the 1979 Challenge Cup final during the 1978–79 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1979, the 18–9 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1981 Challenge Cup final during the 1980–81 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 2 May 1981, the 14–14 draw with Hull in the 1982 Challenge Cup final during the 1981–82 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 1 May 1982, the 9–18 defeat by Hull in the 1982 Challenge Cup final replay during the 1981–82 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Wednesday 19 May 1982, and the 19–6 victory over Wigan in the 1984 Challenge Cup final during the 1983–84 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1984.

County Cup final appearances

Eric Hughes played Stand-off/Five-eighth, and scored a drop goal in Widnes' 6–2 victory over Salford in the 1974 Lancashire Cup final during the 1974–75 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 2 November 1974, played Stand-off/Five-eighth in the 16–7 victory over Salford in the 1975 Lancashire Cup final during the 1975–76 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 4 October 1975, played Stand-off/Five-eighth in the 15–13 victory over Workington Town in the 1978 Lancashire Cup final during the 1978–79 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 7 October 1978, played Centre, i.e. number 4, in the 11–0 victory over Workington Town in the 1979 Lancashire Cup final during the 1979–80 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 8 December 1979, played Centre, i.e. number 3, in the 3–8 defeat by Leigh in the 1981 Lancashire Cup final during the 1981–82 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 26 September 1981, and played Centre, i.e. number 3, in the 8–12 defeat by Barrow in the 1983 Lancashire Cup final during the 1983–84 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday Saturday 1 October 1983.

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final appearances

Eric Hughes played Stand-off/Five-eighth in Widnes' 0-5 defeat by Leigh in the 1972 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final during the 1972-73 season at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 19 December 1972, played Centre, i.e. number 3, in the 7-15 defeat by Bramley in the 1973 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final during the 1973-74 season at Naughton Park, Widnes on Tuesday 18 December 1973, and played Centre, i.e. number 3, in the 13-7 victory over St. Helens in the 1978 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final during the 1978–79 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 12 December 1978.

Player's No.6 Trophy/John Player/John Player Special Trophy final appearances

Eric Hughes played Stand-off/Five-eighth in Widnes' 2-3 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1974-75 Player's No.6 Trophy final during the 1974–75 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 25 January 1975, played Stand-off/Five-eighth in the 19-13 victory over Hull in the 1975-76 Player's No.6 Trophy final during the 1975–76 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 24 January 1976, played Centre, i.e. number 4, in the 4-9 defeat by Warrington in the 1977-78 Players No.6 Trophy final during the 1977–78 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 28 January 1978, played Stand-off/Five-eighth in the 16-4 victory over Warrington in the 1978–79 John Player Trophy final during the 1978–79 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 28 April 1979, played Stand-off/Five-eighth in the 0-6 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1979–80 John Player Trophy final during the 1979–80 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 5 January 1980, and played Stand-off/Five-eighth in the 10-18 defeat by Leeds in the 1983–84 John Player Special Trophy final during the 1983–84 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 14 January 1984.

Hughes coached Rochdale for the 1987/88 season. He was coach of St. Helens from January 1994 until January 1996. In 1996, he was appointed head coach at Leigh, he was replaced by Keith Latham. He went on to coach Wigan Warriors, replacing Graeme West in February 1997.