1972 Republic of the Congo coup d'état attempt
On February 22, 1972 a faction loyal to Ange Diawara attempted a coup against President Marien Ngouabi. Joachim Yhombi-Opango was instrumental in ending the coup. The musician Franklin Boukaka was killed in the coup, as was former Minister Élie Théophile Itsihou. After more than a year of evading capture Diawara was ambushed and killed in April 1973 by forces loyal to Ngouabi.


1972 Republican National Convention
The 1972 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held from August 21 to August 23, 1972, at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida. It nominated President Richard M. Nixon and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew for reelection. The convention was chaired by then-U.S. House Minority Leader and future Nixon successor Gerald Ford of Michigan. It was the fifth time Nixon had been nominated on the Republican ticket for vice president (1952 and 1956) or president (1960 and 1968). Hence, Nixon's five appearances on his party's ticket matched the major-party American standard of Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat who had been nominated for vice president once (in 1920) and president four times (in 1932, 1936, 1940 and 1944).


1972 Republican National Convention, Site selection
San Diego, California, had originally been selected as host city for the convention on July 23, 1971, with the event expected to take place at the San Diego Sports Arena. Columnist Jack Anderson, however, discovered a memo written by Dita Beard, a lobbyist for the International Telephone and Telegraph Corp., suggesting the company pledge $400,000 toward the San Diego bid in return for the U.S. Department of Justice settling its antitrust case against ITT.


1972 Republican National Convention, Site selection
Fearing scandal, and citing labor and cost concerns, the GOP transferred the event—scarcely three months before it was to begin—to Miami Beach, which was also hosting the Democratic National Convention. It was the sixth and, to date, last time both the Republican and Democratic national party conventions were held in the same city; Chicago had hosted double conventions in 1884, 1932, 1944, and 1952, and Philadelphia in 1948. The RNC did not come to San Diego until 1996.


1972 Republican National Convention, Speeches
The convention set a new standard, as it was scripted as a media event to an unprecedented degree.


1972 Republican National Convention, Speeches
The keynote address, by Anne Armstrong of Texas, was the first national convention keynote delivered by a woman.


1972 Republican National Convention, Speeches
First Lady Pat Nixon became the first Republican First Lady, and the first First Lady in over 25 years, to address a party's national convention. Her speech set the standard for future convention speeches by political spouses. Republican First Ladies Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Laura Bush and Melania Trump, among others, have all followed in this tradition.


1972 Republican National Convention, Balloting
Nixon easily turned back primary challenges from the right, in the person of U.S. Representative John M. Ashbrook of Ohio and, from the left, Representative Pete McCloskey of California. However, under New Mexico state law, McCloskey had earned one delegate, which the convention refused to seat, fearing that the delegate might put McCloskey's name in nomination and give an anti-war speech. U.S. Representative (and delegate) Manuel Lujan of New Mexico, a staunch Nixon supporter, decided to honor state law by voting for McCloskey himself. The final result was that Nixon received 1,347 votes to one for McCloskey and none for Ashbrook. Throughout the precisely scripted convention, delegates chanted "Four more years! Four more years!"


1972 Republican National Convention, Balloting
Spiro Agnew was re-nominated for vice president with 1,345 votes, against one vote for television journalist David Brinkley and two abstentions. The NBC network, for which Brinkley worked, had some "Brinkley for Vice President" buttons made, which the news team wore as a joke.


1972 Republican National Convention, Protest activity
The convention was targeted for widespread protests, particularly against the Vietnam War, and the Nixon administration made efforts to suppress it. This tension was captured by Top Value Television in the independent documentary Four More Years, which juxtaposes shots of the protests outside the convention with the internal politics of the convention.


1972 Republican National Convention, Protest activity
In 2005, files released under a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation monitored former Beatle John Lennon after he was invited to play for Yippie protests. The surveillance of Lennon later concluded that he was not a dangerous revolutionary, being "constantly under the influence of narcotics." The U.S. Justice Department indicted Scott Camil, John Kniffen, Alton Foss, Donald Perdue, William Patterson, Stan Michelsen, Peter Mahoney and John Briggs—collectively known as the Gainesville Eight—on charges of conspiracy to disrupt the Convention. All were exonerated.


1972 Republican National Convention, Protest activity
Oliver Stone's film Born on the Fourth of July, based on Ron Kovic's autobiography of the same name, depicts Kovic and fellow Vietnam Veterans Against the War activists Bobby Muller, Bill Wieman and Mark Clevinger being spat upon at the convention. The scene was not in Kovic's autobiography, but was taken almost frame for frame and word by word from a documentary film made at the 1972 Republican Convention titled "Operation Last Patrol" by filmmaker and actor Frank Cavestani and photo journalist Cathrine Leroy.


1972 Republican Party presidential primaries
From March 7 to June 6, 1972, voters of the Republican Party chose its nominee for president in the 1972 United States presidential election. Incumbent President Richard Nixon was again selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 1972 Republican National Convention held from August 21 to August 23, 1972, in Miami, Florida.


1972 Republican Party presidential primaries, Primary race
Nixon was a popular incumbent president in 1972, as he seemed to have reached détente with China and the USSR. He shrugged off the first glimmers of what, after the election, became the massive Watergate scandal.


1972 Republican Party presidential primaries, Primary race
Polls showed that Nixon had a strong lead. He was challenged by two minor candidates, liberal Pete McCloskey of California and conservative John Ashbrook of Ohio. McCloskey ran as an anti-Vietnam war candidate dedicated to a much more clearer liberal position compared to Nixon's ambiguity approach within the party, while Ashbrook was dedicated to a much more clearer conservative position than Nixon and opposed Nixon's détente policies towards China and the Soviet Union. In the New Hampshire primary McCloskey's platform of peace garnered 19.7% of the vote to Nixon's 67.9%, with Ashbrook receiving 10.9% and comedian Pat Paulsen receiving 1.1%. Having previously stated that he would withdraw from the race had he not achieved 20% of the vote, McCloskey did so.


1972 Republican Party presidential primaries, Primary race
Nixon won 1,347 of the 1,348 delegates to the GOP convention, with McCloskey receiving the vote of one delegate from New Mexico.


1972 Rhode Island Rams football team
The 1972 Rhode Island Rams football team was an American football team that represented the University of Rhode Island as a member of the Yankee Conference during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. In its third season under head coach Jack Gregory, the team compiled a 3–7 record (0–5 against conference opponents), finished in sixth/last place in the Yankee Conference, and was  outscored by a total of 199 to 146. The team played its home games at Meade Stadium in Kingston, Rhode Island.


1972 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
The 1972 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Democratic nominee Philip Noel defeated Republican nominee Herbert F. DeSimone with 52.55% of the vote.


1972 Rice Owls football team
The 1972 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University in the Southwest Conference during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. In their first year under head coach Al Conover, the team compiled a 5–5–1 record.


1972 River Oaks Tennis Tournament
The 1972 River Oaks Tennis Tournament, also known as the River Oaks Invitational, was a men's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas, U.S. in the United States. It was the 38th edition of the tournament and was held from April 3 through April 9, 1972. The tournament was part of the 1972 World Championship Tennis circuit and offered total prize money of $50,000. The singles title was won by first-seeded Rod Laver who earned $10,000 first-prize money.


1972 River Oaks Tennis Tournament, Finals, Doubles
Roy Emerson /  Rod Laver defeated  Ken Rosewall /  Fred Stolle 6–3, 6–3


1972 River Oaks Tennis Tournament – Singles
First-seeded Rod Laver won the men's singles title at the 1972 River Oaks Tennis Tournament tennis tournament.


1972 Road Atlanta Can-Am
The 1972 Road Atlanta Can-Am race was the second round of the 1972 Can-Am season. It was held July 9, 1972, at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. It was the third Can-Am race held at the track.


1972 Rochdale by-election
The Rochdale by-election, 1972, was a parliamentary by-election held on 26 October 1972 for the British House of Commons constituency of Rochdale.


1972 Rochdale by-election
The by-election took place during the 1970s Liberal revival, in one of the fewLabour-held seats in which the Liberal Party was in second place. This was the first Liberal gain during the 1970–1974 Parliament.


1972 Rochdale by-election, Previous MP
The seat had become vacant when the constituency's Labour Member of Parliament (MP), John "Jack" McCann (4 December 1910 – 16 July 1972), died.


1972 Rochdale by-election, Previous MP
McCann first contested the Rochdale seat for Parliament in 1955 without success. He was first elected in a 1958 by-election following the death of the sitting Conservative MP Wentworth Schofield. In that by-election the Liberal candidate had finished second, during the late 1950s Liberal revival that culminated in the victory at the 1958 Torrington by-election, the next month. The Liberals had finished second to McCann in three out of the four subsequent general elections, including that of 1970.


1972 Rochdale by-election, Candidates
Four candidates were nominated. The list below is set out in descending order of the number of votes received at the by-election.


1972 Rochdale by-election, Candidates
The Liberal Party candidate was Cyril Smith (28 June 1928 – 3 September 2010). He was a prominent local politician, who had been a Labour Mayor of the town in 1966–67. Smith joined the Liberal Party in 1967. He had finished second in the seat at the 1970 United Kingdom general election. Smith won the by-election and retained the constituency until he retired from Parliament in 1992. He was the Liberal Chief Whip 1975–76.


1972 Rochdale by-election, Candidates
Representing the Labour Party was Lawrence Cunliffe (born 25 March 1929). He again contested Rochdale in the February 1974 general election. Cunliffe was elected MP for Leigh in 1979 and sat for the seat until he retired in 2001.


1972 Rochdale by-election, Candidates
The Conservative candidate was David Trippier, born in 1946. He was a stockbroker and Rochdale councillor. He contested Oldham West in both 1974 general elections. Trippier became the Member of Parliament for Rossendale from 1979 to 1983, and for Rossendale and Darwen from 1983 until he lost his seat in 1992.


1972 Rochdale by-election, Candidates
Jim Merrick, the chairman of the British Campaign to Stop Immigration, was from Bradford and issued leaflets headed "Enoch is right".


1972 Roller Hockey World Cup
The 1972 Roller Hockey World Cup was the twentieth roller hockey world cup, organized by the Fédération Internationale de Roller Sports. It was contested by 12 national teams (6 from Europe, 2 from South America, 2 from Oceania, 1 from North America and 1 from Asia). All the games were played in the city of A Coruña, in Spain, the chosen city to host the World Cup.


1972 Rose Bowl
The 1972 Rose Bowl was the 58th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Saturday, January 1. The Stanford Indians of the Pacific-8 Conference upset the undefeated and fourth-ranked Michigan Wolverines of the Big Ten Conference by a point,  13–12, repeating as Rose Bowl champions. The Player of the Game was Stanford quarterback Don Bunce.


1972 Rose Bowl, Teams, Michigan Wolverines
Michigan started the season with a 21–6 win at preseason #20 Northwestern. They rose to as high as second in the rankings by winning their next eight games by a combined score of 358–40, including three straight shutouts over non-conference opponents (Virginia, UCLA, Navy) by an aggregate of 134–0.


1972 Rose Bowl, Teams, Michigan Wolverines
But the Wolverines were almost caught looking ahead to their showdown with rival Ohio State, and escaped with a 20–17 win at Purdue. They then beat the unranked Buckeyes 10–7 to finish as undefeated Big Ten champions. It was the Wolverines' first undefeated regular season  in 33 years, and they made their second appearance in the Rose Bowl under third-year coach Bo Schembechler.


1972 Rose Bowl, Teams, Stanford Indians
The Indians had won the previous year's Rose Bowl behind the heroics of Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett, who  was the first pick of the 1971 NFL Draft. Plunkett's backup Don Bunce, running back Jackie Brown, and the "Thunderchickens" defense, led Indians to an 8–3 record in 1971 and a return appearance in the Rose Bowl. Stanford's key wins came against Dan Fouts and Oregon (38–17), at USC (33–18), and at eleventh-ranked Washington (17–6), led by quarterback Sonny Sixkiller.


1972 Rose Bowl, Teams, Stanford Indians
Stanford concluded the regular season with three home games, the first over struggling UCLA, a 20–9 win that was tied at three at halftime. However, they were caught looking ahead to the Rose Bowl decider vs. rival California, and were upset by San Jose State 13–12, a non-conference game in which kicker Rod Garcia missed all five kicks; four field goal attempts and an extra point try. They rebounded and ended the regular season with a 14–0 shutout over archrival Cal to secure the Pac-8 title.


1972 Rose Bowl, Teams, Stanford Indians
This Rose Bowl was the last football game that Stanford played as the "Indians," which was abolished by the university in March 1972, after objections from Native American students and a vote by the student senate. Stanford's athletic teams became the "Cardinals," referring to the school's primary color; it was reduced to the singular "Cardinal" in 1982.


1972 Rose Bowl, Game summary
Michigan came into the game on New Year's Day ranked fourth, but had little hope of winning the national championship as #1 Nebraska was facing #2 Alabama in the Orange Bowl that night (won by Nebraska, 38–6). It was the first Rose Bowl meeting between the two schools since the inaugural seventy years earlier in 1902, in which Michigan crushed Stanford 49–0. In the 1972 rematch, Michigan was favored by 10½ points.


1972 Rose Bowl, Game summary
The game started slowly, as rain the previous week had made the turf soggy and both teams showed stout defense. In the first quarter, Stanford placekicker Rod Garcia attempted field goals from 52 and 55 yards, but missed both. Michigan kicker Dana Coin made a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter for the only score in the first half. In the first series of the second half, Stanford stopped the Wolverines on 4th and 1 at Stanford's 4-yard line, then marched down to tie the game on Garcia's 42-yard field goal.


1972 Rose Bowl, Game summary
As the fourth quarter began, Michigan's Fritz Seyferth scored on a one-yard dive to put Michigan up 10–3. After Stanford got the ball back, they faced fourth and ten from their own 33. Coach Ralston called for a fake punt, with Jim Kehl receiving the snap and handing the ball forward to Jackie Brown, through his legs; he ran 33 yards for a first down, and followed up a minute later with a 24-yard touchdown run to tie the game.


1972 Rose Bowl, Game summary
Late in the fourth quarter, Michigan recovered a Stanford fumble near midfield. Facing fourth down with time running down, the Wolverines attempted a 46-yard field goal. The kick was short and right, and Stanford safety Jim Ferguson caught the ball and attempted to run it out of the end zone. He advanced to the seven but cut to the center and retreated; he was knocked back into the end zone by Ed Shuttlesworth for a controversial Michigan safety, as replays seemed to show that Ferguson's forward progress was to the 3-yard line. The official that made the call was back judge William Quimby of the Big Ten. This made the score 12–10 with just over three minutes to play, and Michigan due to get the ball on a free kick.


1972 Rose Bowl, Game summary
Following the free kick from the twenty, Michigan started from their own 45; they kept the ball on the ground but the Indians held for a three-and-out, and Stanford called a timeout prior to the punt. They got the ball back on their own 22-yard line with 1:48 to go. Bunce then threw five consecutive completions to take Stanford to the Michigan 17 with 22 seconds left. The Indians ran two more running plays followed by timeouts to get to the 14-yard-line with sixteen seconds left, and Garcia successfully kicked a 31-yard field goal to give Stanford its first lead and a 13–12 upset.


1972 Rose Bowl, Aftermath
This was the final Rose Bowl contested under the Big Ten's "no-repeat" policy, which prohibited conference teams from appearing in the game in back-to-back seasons. The no-repeat rule was repealed December 9, 1971.


1972 Rose Bowl, Aftermath
Bunce finished 24 of 44 for 290 yards and was named the game's MVP. He played one year of professional football in the Canadian Football League before leaving football to become a successful orthopedic surgeon, eventually serving as team doctor for Stanford's football team from 1982 to 1992. The game was the last football game Stanford played as the "Indians", becoming the "Cardinals" the following year before eventually becoming the singular "Cardinal" (the color) by 1981. Stanford would not return to the Rose Bowl until 2000 and did not win another Rose Bowl until 2013.


1972 Rose Bowl, Aftermath
Two Indians were top 10 selections in the 1972 NFL Draft. Offensive tackle Greg Sampson went sixth overall to the Houston Oilers, and linebacker Jeff Siemon went 10th to the Minnesota Vikings. Siemon was the Vikings' starting middle linebacker in three Super Bowl losses (VIII, IX and XI, the last of which was the first Super Bowl played at the Rose Bowl stadium) and played 11 seasons for the club. Sampson played seven seasons  in Houston and had a role in the 1974 film The Longest Yard.


1972 Rose Bowl, Aftermath
Ralston departed Palo Alto shortly after the Rose Bowl to accept the head coaching position of the National Football League's Denver Broncos, continuing a trend of college coaches moving to the NFL which began the previous year with Dan Devine (Missouri to the Green Bay Packers) and Tommy Prothro (UCLA Bruins to the Los Angeles Rams), and continued with Chuck Fairbanks (Oklahoma to the New England Patriots), Don Coryell (San Diego State to the St. Louis Cardinals), Rick Forzano (Navy to the Detroit Lions), Lou Holtz (North Carolina State to the New York Jets), John McKay (USC to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Dick Vermeil (UCLA to the Philadelphia Eagles).


1972 Rose Bowl, Aftermath
The Broncos did not make the playoffs during any of Ralston's five seasons (1972–1976), but he acquired many of the players who formed the nucleus of Denver's legendary "Orange Crush" defense which led the franchise to Super Bowl XII under rookie coach Red Miller in 1977. Under Ralston, the Broncos experienced their first winning season, a 7–5–2 campaign in 1973.


1972 Rose Bowl, Aftermath
Michigan fell to sixth in the AP poll, trailing three schools from the Big Eight Conference (Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado), Alabama, and Penn State. The Wolverines did not play in a bowl game in 1972, 1973, or 1974, despite a regular season record of 30–2–1 in that period. Michigan was done in (a) by an 0–2–1 record vs. Ohio State, with the losses, both in Columbus, by a combined five points, and (b) the Big Ten's "Rose Bowl or No Bowl" policy, also observed by the Pac-8, which was rescinded before the 1975 season. This allowed an 8–1–2 Michigan team (which again lost to Ohio State) the opportunity to play in the Orange Bowl. The Wolverines and Buckeyes tied 10–10 in 1973, but Ohio State received the Rose Bowl berth on a 6–4 vote of Big Ten athletic directors.


1972 Rose Bowl, Aftermath
Schembechler's Wolverines returned to three consecutive Rose Bowls from 1977 to 1979, but lost all three (by 8, 7, and 7 points). In 1981, the Wolverines finally won their first bowl game under the legendary coach, breaking a six-game losing streak in the Rose Bowl by the Big Ten. Fittingly, Schembechler's 21-year career at Michigan ended with a loss in the 1990 Rose Bowl, leaving him 2–8 in the "Grandaddy Of Them All," as he finished with a 2–8 record in Rose Bowls.


1972 Rose Bowl, Aftermath
Referee Jerry Markbreit later became the first to serve as referee in four Super Bowls (XVII, XXI, XXVI, XXIX; the first two in Pasadena) during his 23-year NFL officiating career (1976–98), but this was his only bowl game as a college official. William Quimby, the back judge who made the controversial safety call against Stanford, later officiated in the NFL for many years, working Super Bowl XIX following the 1984 season.


1972 Rothmans Canadian Open
The 1972 Rothmans Canadian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club in Toronto in Canada that was part of the 1972 Commercial Union Assurance Grand Prix The men's tournament was categorized as a Grade A tournament, the second-highest category, while the women's competition was a Grade D event. The tournament was held from August 14 through August 20, 1972. Ilie Năstase and Evonne Goolagong won the singles titles.


1972 Rothmans Canadian Open, Finals, Men's Doubles
Ilie Năstase /  Ion Ţiriac defeated  Jan Kodeš /  Jan Kukal 7–6, 6–3


1972 Rothmans Canadian Open, Finals, Women's Doubles
Margaret Court /  Evonne Goolagong defeated  Brenda Kirk /  Pat Walkden 3–6, 6–3, 7–5


1972 Rothmans F5000 European Championship
The 1972 Rothmans F5000 European Championship  was a motor racing series for Formula 5000 cars. The series was organized in the United Kingdom by the British Racing and Sports Car Club but also included rounds in Belgium and Ireland. It was the fourth European Formula 5000 Championship, and the second to be contested under the Rothmans F5000 European Championship name. The championship was won by Gijs van Lennep, driving a Surtees TS11 and a McLaren M18.


1972 Rothmans F5000 European Championship, Points system
Championship points were awarded on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis for the first six places at each of the first thirteen rounds and on an 18-12-10-8-6-4-2 basis for the first six places at the final round.


1972 Rothmans International Tennis Tournament
The 1972 Rothmans International Tennis Tournament was a men's professional tennis tournament held on indoor carpet courts in the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. It was the third edition of the tournament and was held from 18 to 22 January 1972. It was a non-tour event, i.e. not part of either the 1972 Grand Prix or 1972 World Championship Tennis circuit. Cliff Richey won the singles title and $6,960 in prize money after defeating Clark Graebner in a three-hour-and-six-minute final.


1972 Rothmans International Tennis Tournament, Finals, Doubles
Clark Graebner /  Tom Gorman defeated  Bob Hewitt /  Frew McMillan 6–7, 7–5, 6–4, 4–6, 6–4


1972 Rotterdam Indoors
The 1972 Rotterdam Indoors was a men's tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts. It was the inaugural edition of the event known that year as the Rotterdam Indoors, and was part of the 1972 World Championship Tennis circuit. It took place at the Rotterdam Ahoy indoor sporting arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from 12 November through 18 November 1972. Second-seeded Arthur Ashe won the singles title.


1972 Rotterdam Indoors
The singles field included Toronto, Las Vegas, St. Louis, Fort Worth, Alamo, Vancouver and Gothenburg WCT champion John Newcombe, US Open runner-up, Louisville and Montreal WCT titlist Arthur Ashe, and Chicago WCT winner, Boston WCT and Stockholm finalist Tom Okker. Also lined up were Briton Robin Drysdale, Cleveland WCT champion Mark Cox, Robert Lutz, Marty Riessen and Nikola Pilić.


1972 Rotterdam Indoors, Finals, Doubles
Roy Emerson /  John Newcombe defeated  Arthur Ashe /  Robert Lutz, 6–2, 6–3


1972 Rotterdam Indoors – Doubles
Roy Emerson and John Newcombe won in the final 6–2, 6–3, against Arthur Ashe and Robert Lutz.


1972 Rotterdam Indoors – Singles
Arthur Ashe won the singles title of the 1972 Rotterdam Indoors defeating Tom Okker in the final 3–6, 6–2, 6–1. Mark Cox won the match for third place against John Newcombe 6–3, 6–4.


1972 Rugby League World Cup
The sixth Rugby League World Cup was held in France in October and November 1972. Australia started as the favourites to retain the trophy they had won just two years previously. New Zealand had beaten all three of the other nations in 1971 and France were expected to be tough opponents on their home soil. In the event Great Britain confounded most expectations by running out worthy winners and levelling their tally of World Cup wins at 3–3 with the Australians.


1972 Rugby League World Cup
The final was held at Stade Gerland in Lyon. Great Britain played Australia and in the end, with scores level and unchanged after extra time, claimed the cup on league placing.


1972 Rugby League World Cup
This was the last World Cup to be played under the four-tackle rule.


1972 Rugby League World Cup, Results, Final
The French public seemed uninterested in a final that did not involve the home team, as just over 4,200 spectators turned up. The game will always be remembered by the British for their captain Clive Sullivan's wonderful long distance try and by the Australians for perhaps "the greatest try never scored", later shown on TV to be legitimately scored by Australian fullback Graeme Langlands but disallowed by French referee Georges Jameau. Mike Stephenson scored the 73rd-minute try that helped Great Britain level the scores and secure the World Cup.


1972 Rugby League World Cup, Results, Final
Had Aussie winger Ray Branighan succeeded with a 79th-minute penalty or Bob Fulton landed one of three drop goal attempts in the last five minutes, the cup could easily have gone to Australia. But for the first time in the competition's history the scores were level at full-time. An additional twenty minutes extra time was played, but no further score resulted, and Great Britain were awarded the cup by virtue of a better position in the table.


1972 Rugby League World Cup Final
The 1972 Rugby League World Cup Final was the conclusive game of the 1972 Rugby League World Cup tournament and was played between Great Britain and Australia on 11 November 1972 at the Stade de Gerland ground in Lyon, France. The final was played before 4,231 fans who witnessed what is (as of 2020) the last British team to win the Rugby League World Cup.


1972 Rugby League World Cup Final, Background
The 1972 Rugby League World Cup was the sixth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since its inauguration in 1954, and the first since the 1970 tournament. The tournament was held in the France from 28 October, culminating in the final between Great Britain and Australia on 11 November.


1972 Rugby League World Cup Final, Match details
The French public seemed uninterested in a final that did not involve the home team, as less than 4,500 spectators turned up. Indeed, out of the seven games in the World Cup tournament, including the final, the only games that drew over 10,000 fans were two of the three games in which the French team played. The Final actually drew the lowest attendance of the tournament.


1972 Rugby League World Cup Final, Match details
The game will always be remembered by the British for their captain Clive Sullivan's wonderful long distance try and by the Australians for perhaps "the greatest try never scored", later shown on TV to be legitimately scored by Australian fullback Graeme Langlands who chased and dived to catch Dennis Ward's bomb in mid-air, but it disallowed by French referee Georges Jameau who believed the Australian captain to be offside. Mike Stephenson scored the 73rd-minute try that helped Great Britain level the scores and secure the World Cup.


1972 Rugby League World Cup Final, Match details
Had Aussie winger Ray Branighan succeeded with a 79th-minute penalty or Bob Fulton landed one of three drop goal attempts in the last five minutes, the cup could easily have gone to Australia. But for the first time in the competition's history the scores were level at full-time. An additional twenty minutes extra time was played, but no further score resulted, and Great Britain were awarded the cup by virtue of a better position in the table.


1972 Rugby League World Cup group stage
The 1972 Rugby League World Cup group stage was the main component of the 1972 Rugby League World Cup, with the top two nations qualifying for the World Cup Final. The group consisted of hosts France as well as Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand.


1972 Rugby League World Cup group stage, Matches, France vs New Zealand
France kicked off the tournament by sharing six tries with the Kiwis but a massive penalty count in their favour allowed the French to dictate play, their five goals and a drop goal to none by the Kiwis proving decisive.


1972 Rugby League World Cup group stage, Matches, Great Britain vs Australia
At Perpignan a monumental struggle finally went Britain's way 27–21 against the Kangaroos, for whom Bob Fulton grabbed three tries in a lost cause.


1972 Rugby League World Cup group stage, Matches, France vs Great Britain
Great Britain overcame France 13–4 to qualify for the final with outstanding second-rower Phil Lowe scoring two tries.


1972 Rugby League World Cup group stage, Matches, Australia vs New Zealand
New Zealand gave Australia a hard time, the first half being scoreless, before going down 9–5.


1972 Rugby League World Cup group stage, Matches, Great Britain vs New Zealand
Great Britain hammered New Zealand 53–19, a World Cup record score, with young stand-off John Holmes collecting 26 points (10 goals, 2 tries) – another World Cup record.


1972 Rugby League World Cup group stage, Matches, France vs Australia
Australia had to beat France at Toulouse to reach the final in the last game of the preliminaries, a task which proved well within their capabilities.


1972 Rugby League World Cup squads
This is a list of the teams which took part at the 1972 Rugby League World Cup.


1972 Ruisui earthquake
The 1972 Ruisui earthquake (also known as the 1972 Juisui earthquake) occurred on April 24 at 17:57 local time. The magnitude of this earthquake was given as Ms 7.2 by the United States Geological Survey and ML 6.9 by the Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan. The epicenter was located near Ruisui Township, Hualien County, Taiwan. The intensity was shindo 4 in Taipei and Hualien. Five people were reported dead. The Ruisui Bridge (Chinese: 瑞穗大橋) was destroyed. The water treatment plant in Ruisui was damaged.


1972 Ruisui earthquake
This earthquake was caused by the Juisui Fault with a vertical movement of 70 centimeters (28 in). The Juisui Fault is a segment of the 150 kilometers (93 mi) long Longitudinal Valley Fault, which is a left-lateral fault with a reverse component. The boundary between the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Plate lies along the Longitudinal Valley Fault.


1972 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team
The 1972 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. In their 13th and final season under head coach John F. Bateman, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 7–4 record. The team outscored its opponents 290 to 171. The team's statistical leaders included Leo Gasienica with 1,409 passing yards, J. J. Jennings with 1,262 rushing yards, and Tom Sweeney with 369 receiving yards.


1972 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team
The Scarlet Knights played their home games at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey, across the river from the university's main campus in New Brunswick.


1972 SANFL Grand Final
The 1972 SANFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football competition. North Adelaide beat Port Adelaide by 128 to 72.


1972 SANFL season
The 1972 South Australian National Football League season was the 93rd season of the top-level Australian rules football competition in South Australia.


1972 SCCA Formula Super Vee season
The 1972 SCCA Formula Super Vee season was the second season of the Sports Car Club of America sanctioned Formula Super Vee championship.


1972 SCCA L&M Continental 5000 Championship
The 1972 SCCA L&M Continental 5000 Championship was the Sports Car Club of America's sixth annual professional open-wheel auto racing series. It was open to Formula 5000 cars, these being Formula SCCA Class A open-wheel, single-seat cars with 5000cc restricted design engines or 3000cc unrestricted design engines. The championship as won by New Zealand driver Graham McRae.


1972 SCCA L&M Continental 5000 Championship, Race schedule
The championship was contested over eight races with two heats per race.


1972 SCCA L&M Continental 5000 Championship, Points system
Championship points were awarded to drivers on a 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 basis for the first ten places in each race, those places having been determined from the results of the two heats. Total points for each driver were based on the best six finishes.


1972 SMU Mustangs football team
The 1972 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University during the 1972 college football season.


1972 Sacramento Canadair Sabre accident
On September 24, 1972, a privately owned Canadair Sabre Mk. 5 jet, piloted by Richard Bingham, failed to take off while leaving the "Golden West Sport Aviation Air Show" at Sacramento Executive Airport in Sacramento, California, United States. The airplane crashed into a Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor. Twenty-two people died and 28 were injured including the pilot.


1972 Sacramento Canadair Sabre accident, Accident
The crash occurred on September 24, 1972, at approximately 4:25 pm. The Canadair Sabre failed to gain sufficient altitude upon takeoff, with eyewitnesses suggesting the nose was over-rotated. The F-86 Sabre has a dangerous and often fatal handling characteristic upon takeoff if the nose is raised prematurely from the runway. This handling characteristic of the F-86 was acknowledged from the early 1950s.


1972 Sacramento Canadair Sabre accident, Accident
The aircraft over-ran the runway, struck an earthen berm, and ripped through a chain link fence. Two external underwing fuel tanks ruptured and ignited upon impact with the fence, creating a massive fireball. The plane continued across Freeport Boulevard, crashing into a moving car, and struck at 150 miles per hour (240 km/h) a Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor. Occupants of the parlor included the Sacramento 49ers junior football team.


1972 Sacramento Canadair Sabre accident, Accident
Twenty-two people died, including 12 children. An eight-year-old survivor of the accident lost nine family members: both parents, two brothers, a sister, two grandparents and two cousins. A family of four also died in the accident. Two people were killed in the car struck on Freeport Boulevard. Immediately after the crash an elderly couple trying to cross the street to the crash site were struck by a vehicle, killing the wife.


1972 Sacramento Canadair Sabre accident, Accident
The crash could have claimed many more lives if the external fuel tanks had not ruptured prior to impact, or if the jet had not been slowed by hitting the moving car and other vehicles parked in front of the restaurant. Bingham, the pilot, suffered a broken leg and a broken arm.


1972 Sacramento Canadair Sabre accident, Aircraft
The Canadair Sabre was a single-engine jet fighter built for the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1954. This Sabre was withdrawn from service in 1961 and placed in long-term storage. It was sold as surplus in the United States in 1971 and was bought by Spectrum Air, Inc., of Novato, California, in the same year.


1972 Sacramento Canadair Sabre accident, Aftermath
The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the accident was a result of pilot error due to lack of experience on the jet. Bingham had logged fewer than four hours flying time in the Sabre. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) modified the rules governing the flight of ex-military jets over densely populated areas and mandated clearance for such flights. Pilot requirements were also tightened: they would require a checkout by the manufacturer or military, and take-offs and landings would have to be observed by an FAA inspector to confirm proficiency.


1972 Sacramento Canadair Sabre accident, Aftermath
The Firefighters Burn Institute was instituted a year after the crash, funded from donations given to local firefighters.


1972 Sacramento Canadair Sabre accident, Memorial
In 2002, a memorial was built at the site of the accident (now part of Freeport Square Shopping Center) and dedicated in March 2003. It consists of: a rose garden with two benches, a fountain, a concrete marker and two metal plaques with the names of those who died.


1972 Sacramento Canadair Sabre accident, Memorial
In 2012, a service to commemorate the 40th anniversary was held to remember the victims of the accident.


1972 Sacramento State Hornets football team
The 1972 Sacramento State Hornets football team represented Sacramento State University during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season.


1972 Sacramento State Hornets football team
Sacramento State competed in the Far Western Conference (FWC). The Hornets were led by head coach Ray Clemons in his twelfth season. They played home games at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, California. The team finished the season with a record of two wins and eight losses (2–8, 1–4 FWC). Overall, the team was outscored by its opponents 107–188 for the season.


1972 Sacramento State Hornets football team, Team players in the NFL
No Sacramento State players were selected in the 1973 NFL Draft.


1972 Saint Louis Billikens men's soccer team
The 1972 Saint Louis Billikens men's soccer team represented Saint Louis University during the 1972 NCAA University Division soccer season. The Billikens won their ninth NCAA title this season. It was the fifteenth ever season the Billikens fielded a men's varsity soccer team.


1972 Salvadoran Primera División
The 1972 Primera División was the 31st season of the Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador, the top tier of football in El Salvador. C.D. Águila won their 6th national title.


1972 Salvadoran coup d'état attempt
The 1972 Salvadoran coup d'état attempt occurred from 25 to 26 March 1972 when young military officers attempted to overthrow the government of Fidel Sánchez Hernández, prevent the presidency of Arturo Armando Molina, and proclaim José Napoleón Duarte as President of El Salvador. The coup was suppressed and its leaders were exiled from the country.


1972 Salvadoran coup d'état attempt, Background
The 1972 Salvadoran presidential election was scheduled for 20 February 1972. The ruling National Conciliation Party (PCN) selected Colonel Arturo Armando Molina as its candidate for the election while the National Opposing Union (UNO), a coalition of the Christian Democratic Party, the National Revolutionary Movement, and the Nationalist Democratic Union, selected José Napoleón Duarte as its candidate.


1972 Salvadoran coup d'état attempt, Background
The election of 1972 was compared to the 1970 Chilean presidential election where socialist candidate Salvador Allende was elected as President of Chile. The ruling military dictatorship was concerned about the influence of the Communist Party of El Salvador (PCES) and the Catholic Church in national politics and they believed that Duarte and other members of UNO had communist sympathies.


1972 Salvadoran coup d'état attempt, Background
On election day, the PCN expected to win the election, but Duarte over-performed in San Salvador and offset the PCN's rural stronghold. Poll watchers claimed the final vote tally to count 327,000 votes for Duarte and 318,000 votes for Molina. The government suspended the results of the election and instructed the Legislative Assembly to elect the President. The PCN had an overwhelming majority in the Legislative Assembly and elected Molina as president on 25 February, effectively canceling the election.


1972 Salvadoran coup d'état attempt, Coup
The Military Youth of El Salvador did not approve of the result of the election and attempted to revert the decision of the Legislative Assembly. On the morning of 25 March, Colonel Benjamin Mejía declared that the Military Youth was in rebellion, including the Artillery Regiment and the barracks of San Carlos and El Zapote, and announced the establishment of the Revolutionary Junta. The Revolutionary Junta intended to install Duarte as President of El Salvador, deposing incumbent President Fidel Sánchez Hernández whose term would expire on 1 July.


1972 Salvadoran coup d'état attempt, Coup
Sánchez Hernández was taken hostage by the Military Youth, but they had failed to gather the support of the rest of the Armed Forces of El Salvador. The Salvadoran Air Force began bombing the capital and rebel positions, and although there were some protestors in favor of the rebels, there were more protesting in favor of the government. Duarte made a radio broadcast at noon calling for civilians to evacuate San Salvador, but his broadcast failed to evoke a reaction from the citizens. Duarte sought refuge in the Venezuelan embassy in San Salvador but he was eventually captured by the National Security Agency of El Salvador (ANSESAL) after they broke into the embassy. The coup failed by the next day.


1972 Salvadoran coup d'état attempt, Aftermath
After the coup, Duarte was tortured and exiled to Guatemala, and later to Venezuela. Mejía was exiled and later assassinated in 1981 by forces of the Revolutionary Government Junta. Molina assumed office on 1 July and would rule the nation until 1977 when he was succeeded by Carlos Humberto Romero.


1972 Salvadoran legislative election
Legislative elections were held in El Salvador on 12 March 1972. The result was a victory for the National Conciliation Party, which won 39 of the 52 seats. However, the election was marred by massive fraud and the Central Election Council disqualified the candidates of the opposition National Opposing Union (an alliance of the Christian Democratic Party, the National Revolutionary Movement and the Nationalist Democratic Union) in five out of fourteen constituencies. Voter turnout was 56.7%.


1972 Salvadoran presidential election
Presidential elections were held in El Salvador on 20 February 1972.


1972 Salvadoran presidential election
The result was a victory for Arturo Armando Molina of the Party of National Conciliation (PCN), who received 43.4% of the vote. However, the election was characterised by massive fraud. The PCN had faced a strong challenge from left- and right-wing opposition, and as a result had tried to rig the election by holding the presidential elections two weeks before the legislative election (which took place on 12 March) to ensure that if Molina failed to pass the 50% mark, the Legislative Assembly would still be under PCN control to approve him as president.


1972 Salvadoran presidential election
Despite their attempts to stuff ballot boxes, it looked for a while as though José Napoleón Duarte of the opposition National Opposing Union (UNO, a coalition of the Christian Democratic Party National Revolutionary Movement and Nationalist Democratic Union) had been victorious after the Central Election Board in San Salvador issued a statement that Duarte had won by around 6,000 votes. However, this was followed by a three-day news blackout, after which a revised set of figures was announced giving a narrow victory to Molina, meaning that the Legislative Assembly (with a PCN majority) would choose the president. The opposition walked out of the vote, resulting in Molina being elected by 31 votes to zero.


1972 San Diego Chargers season
The 1972 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's third season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 13th overall. The team failed to improve on their 6–8 record in 1971. The Chargers would get off to a poor start, as they were devoured 34-3 in their season opener at San Francisco. After their week 2 win against the Denver Broncos, the Chargers would play to a 17-17 draw with another cross-state rival, the Oakland Raiders. It was San Diego's fourth tie in 3 seasons (they tied 3 times in 1970).


1972 San Diego Chargers season
Even after they defeated the Baltimore Colts in the week following the tie, the Bolts would stumble the rest of the year, winning only 2 more games en route to a 4-9-1 season. This squad featured several players like Duane Thomas, Tim Rossovich, Dave Costa and John Mackey who were unwanted by most of the other NFL teams.


1972 San Diego Chargers season, Notable events
In their last game for the year, the Chargers became the thirty-third team in the NFL or leagues that merged with the NFL to score only a safety in a full game. This unusual occurrence has been repeated only five times since: by the 1980 Buffalo Bills, the 1983 Minnesota Vikings, the 1993 Cincinnati Bengals, the 2011 Atlanta Falcons (the only team to do so in a playoff game) and the 2013 Jacksonville Jaguars.


1972 San Diego Padres season
The 1972 San Diego Padres season was the fourth season in franchise history.


1972 San Diego Padres season, Regular season
Until 2021, no Padres pitcher had ever thrown a no-hitter. On July 18 against the Philadelphia Phillies, Steve Arlin came within one out of a no-hitter before a Denny Doyle single broke up the bid.


1972 San Diego Padres season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1972 San Diego Padres season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1972 San Diego Padres season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1972 San Diego Padres season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1972 San Diego Padres season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1972 San Diego Padres season, Awards and honors
Colbert scored the winning run, but he brought the wrong uniform with him to Atlanta. The San Diego Padres' slugger donned his road jersey with SAN DIEGO on it instead of his home one with PADRES on it.


1972 San Diego State Aztecs football team
The 1972 San Diego State Aztecs football team represented California State University San Diego during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association.


1972 San Diego State Aztecs football team
The team was led by head coach Don Coryell, in his twelfth (and final) year, and played home games at San Diego Stadium in San Diego, California. They finished the season as Conference Champion, with a record of ten wins and one loss (10–1, 4–0 PCAA).


1972 San Diego State Aztecs football team
In his twelve years at San Diego State, coach Coryell had an overall record of 104–19–2 and a winning percentage of .840. The total wins, winning percentage, and games coached are all San Diego State coaching records. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999 and was the first coach to win more than 100 games at both the collegiate and professional level.


1972 San Diego State Aztecs football team, Team players in the NFL
The following finished their college career in 1972, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.


1972 San Francisco 49ers season
The 1972 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 23rd season in the National Football League and their 27th overall.. The 49ers appeared in the playoffs for the third consecutive year. After an early-season injury to Quarterback John Brodie, Steve Spurrier stepped in and turned things around with brilliant performances to get the 49ers back in the playoff picture by going 5-2-1 over eight games.


1972 San Francisco 49ers season
In the last game of the season, Brodie returned in the 4th Quarter and threw two touchdown passes to lead the 49ers to a 20–17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, as the 49ers won the third straight Division Title with an 8-5-1 record. In the Divisional Playoffs at Candlestick, the 49ers looked poised for a return to the NFC Championship, leading the Dallas Cowboys 28-13 entering the 4th Quarter. However, the Cowboys would score 17 points to break the hearts of San Francisco again. This would mark the last playoff appearance for the 49ers until 1981.


1972 San Francisco Giants season
The 1972 San Francisco Giants season was the Giants' 90th year in Major League Baseball, their 15th year in San Francisco, and their 13th at Candlestick Park. The Giants finished in fifth place in the National League West with a record of 69–86. It was their first losing season in San Francisco and the franchise's first losing season since 1957, which was the franchise's final year in New York.


1972 San Francisco Giants season, Regular season
Franchise legend Willie Mays was traded to the New York Mets for Charlie Williams and US$50,000. At the time, the Giants franchise was losing money. Owner Horace Stoneham could not guarantee Mays an income after retirement.


1972 San Francisco Giants season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1972 San Francisco Giants season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1972 San Francisco Giants season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1972 San Francisco Giants season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1972 San Francisco Giants season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1972 San Francisco State Gators football team
The 1972 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State University during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season.


1972 San Francisco State Gators football team
San Francisco State competed in the Far Western Conference (FWC). The Gators were led by head coach Vic Rowen in his 12th year at the helm. They played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco, California. The team finished the regular season with a record of three wins and eight losses (3–8, 1–4 FWC). For the season the team was outscored by its opponents 250–323.


1972 San Francisco State Gators football team, Team players in the NFL
No San Francisco State players were selected in the 1973 NFL Draft.


1972 San Jose State Spartans football team
The 1972 San Jose State Spartans football team represented California State University, San Jose during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association. The team was led by third year head coach DeWayne "Dewey" King. They played home games at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California. The Spartans finished the season with a record of four wins, seven losses (4–7, 1–3 PCAA).


1972 Sandown 250
The 1972 Sandown 250 was an endurance motor race for Group E Series Production Touring Cars. It was held on 10 September 1972 over 130 laps of the Sandown circuit in Victoria, Australia, a total distance of 250 miles (403 km). The race was Heat 2 of the 1972 Australian Manufacturers' Championship.


1972 Sandown 250, Class Structure
As a heat of the 1972 Australian Manufacturers' Championship, the race featured four classes defined by "Capacity Price Units". The CP Unit value for each car was assessed by multiplying the engine capacity (in litres) by the Sydney retail price (in Australian dollars).


1972 Sandown 250, Results
Note: Of the 43 starters, 22 were classified as finishers and 2 completed insufficient laps to be classified.


1972 Scheldeprijs
The 1972 Scheldeprijs was the 59th edition of the Scheldeprijs cycle race and was held on 1 August 1972. The race was won by Eddy Merckx.


1972 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1972 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 9 December 1972 and was the final of the 27th Scottish League Cup competition. It was contested by Hibernian and Celtic. Hibs won the match 2–1, thanks to goals by Jimmy O'Rourke and Pat Stanton. This meant that Hibs won their first major national cup competition since the 1902 Scottish Cup, and it was their first cup win at Hampden Park.


1972 Scottish local elections
The Labour Party built upon their success in the 1971 local elections, coming close to winning control of all four Scottish cities: they fell short in Edinburgh by two seats. One of their other gains was in Greenock, which had been the only council controlled by the Liberal Party.


1972 Scottish local elections
The Scottish National Party suffered a disastrous result, losing their last remaining ward in Shettleston, Glasgow, for instance, although they increased their majority in their last remaining stronghold of Cumbernauld. Similarly, the Progressives lost all three of the seats they were defending in Glasgow.


1972 Segunda División de Chile
The 1972 Segunda División de Chile was the 21st season of the Segunda División de Chile.


1972 Senior League World Series
The 1972 Senior League World Series was a baseball tournament for children aged 13 to 16 years old. It took place from August 15–20 in Gary, Indiana, United States. Pingtung, Taiwan defeated Oxnard, California in the championship game.


1972 Senior League World Series
This year featured the debut of the Far East Region.


1972 Sheffield City Council election
The final Municipal elections for Sheffield - soon to be abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 - were held in May 1972, with one third up for vote, as well as an extra vacancy in Brightside.


1972 Sheffield City Council election
The election seen Labour further their stranglehold on the council with four gains from the Conservatives, as they repeated the previous year's wins. One of the notable casualties from last year, Irvine Patnick, managed re-election via re-location to the safe Conservative ward of Broomhill. The Liberals, standing the lowest number of candidates (3) in over a decade, were rewarded for focusing their efforts on retaining their sole representation on the council, as they easily defended their by-election-won seat of Burngreave, more than sextupling their majority there. Labour were reported to be overjoyed to see the return of former councillor, and veteran of the party, Joe Albaya in Intake, after over a decade's absence.


1972 Sheffield City Council election, Election result
The result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the Council after the elections:


1972 Sindhi Language Bill
Sindhi Language Bill, 1972 was introduced by the Chief Minister Mumtaz Bhutto on July 3, 1972 in the Sindh Assembly, Pakistan. The 1972 Language violence in Sindh occurred starting on July 7, 1972, when the Sindh Assembly passed the Sind Teaching, Promotion and Use of Sindhi Language Bill, 1972 which established Sindhi language as the sole official language of the province resulting in language violence in Sindh. Due to the clashes, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto compromised and announced that Urdu and Sindhi will both be official languages of Sindh. The making of Sindhi as an equal language to Urdu for official purposes frustrated the Urdu-speaking people.


1972 Sindhi Language Bill, Clauses, Clause 6
Subject to the provisions of the Constitution, Government may makearrangements for progressive use of Sindhi language in offices anddepartments of Government including Courts and Assembly.


1972 Singapore Grand Prix
The 1972 Singapore Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Thomson Road Grand Prix circuit in Singapore on 2 April 1972. The race, which was staged over 50 laps, was the seventh Singapore Grand Prix.


1972 Singapore Grand Prix
The race was won by Australian Max Stewart driving a Mildren-Ford.


1972 Singaporean general election
General elections were held in Singapore on 2 September 1972. The result was a fourth victory for the People's Action Party, which won all 65 seats, the second of four consecutive elections in which they repeated the feat. Voter turnout was 93.5% in the 57 constituencies (which represented 812,926 voters) that were contested, with PAP candidates elected unopposed in the other eight, which represents 95,456 voters.


1972 Singaporean general election, Electoral system
The 65 members of Parliament were elected in 65 single-member constituencies, an increase from 58 in the 1968 elections. Like the previous elections, boundaries and constituencies were carved due to development or population; the newly added constituencies were:


1972 Singaporean general election, Campaign
Unlike the previous elections in 1968, which saw the PAP returning to power after nomination day due to low number of contests (seven out of 58 seats), this election saw contests in all but eight seats.


1972 Singaporean general election, Campaign
Barisan Sosialis renounced its boycott strategy and attempted to make a comeback, while the Workers' Party saw its rejuvenation with the introduction of its new secretary-general, also lawyer and former district judge, J. B. Jeyaretnam (who would later become the inaugural opposition Member of Parliament in 1981); former leader and ex-Chief Minister David Marshall contemplated standing as an independent, but ultimately did not run due to a stingray wound. PAP candidate and architect Ong Teng Cheong, who made his debut in the election, would later serve as a Deputy Prime Minister and also the first-elected (and fifth) President of Singapore.


1972 Singaporean general election, Campaign
Describing the alternative opposition parties as having lost their credibility with swerving political manoeuvres, coupled with Singapore's strong economic progress and successful housing development, the PAP declared that Singaporeans no longer saw need for political diversity, claiming that this led to squabbling that would impede its effective governance.


1972 Singaporean general election, Results
Despite expectations that the PAP would not coast to victory and Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew even anticipating that the PAP winning around 45 seats would be a convincing victory, the PAP still managed to capture every seat in Parliament for the second time.


1972 Skipper Chrysler 6 Hour Le Mans
The 1972 Skipper Chrysler 6 Hour Le Mans was an endurance motor race for Sports Open, Sports Closed, Improved Production Touring Cars & Series Production Touring Cars. The event was staged by the W.A. Sporting Car Club at the Wanneroo Park Circuit in Western Australia on Sunday 4 June 1972. It was the 18th and final 6 Hour Le Mans race to be held.


1972 Sligo Senior Football Championship
This is a round-up of the 1972 Sligo Senior Football Championship. Curry were champions in this year, claiming their second title in a decade, after defeating Enniscrone in the final. The holders, St. Patrick's, were surprisingly defeated in the opening round by Mullinabreena, which was their only Championship loss between 1970 and 1974.


1972 Sligo Senior Football Championship, Sligo Senior Football Championship Final
Team:T. DuffyP. CollearyP. DoohanM. CollearyA. BrennanJ. KivlehanA. ColleranT. CollearyJ. StensonA. CollearyJ. CollearyD. BrennanC. BrennanO. HenryM. Marren


1972 Sligo Senior Football Championship, Sligo Senior Football Championship Final
Team:M. JacobP. McManusA. CaffreyE. MurphyP. O'BrienL. CaffreyE. HarteK. KilcawleyP.J. KavanaghP. TigheB. Murphy (Capt.) B. FlynnE. O'DowdJ. McManusJ. Fleming


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina
The 1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina was a series of matches played by the Gazelles (Under-24 South African selection) in Argentina, between September and November 1972.


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina
It was the second tour of Argentina by this selection, after the 1966 tour and the fourth of a South African team.


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina
The series between "Gazelles" and "Pumas" (Argentina national team) was tied with a victory for both. In fact, the second test played on 4 November was the first victory ever of a national team over a South African side.


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match summary
Complete list of matches played by the South Africa u24 in Argentina:


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match details
Report of all the matches played by the Gazelles in Argentina:


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match details
San Isidro Club: J.Caballero; M.Walter, F.Ciro, R.Matarazzo, J.Otaola; F.G.Victorica, M.Cutler; R.Lucke, J.Cariacedo, M.Iglesias (capt. ); J.Rodríguez Jurado, A.Anthony; F.Lafuente, O.Rocha, A.Orzábal. Gazelles: R.Carlson; J.Germishuys, J.Jansen, J.Schlebusch, A.Swartz; J.Snyman, P.Bayvel; J.Verster; D.MacDonald, M.du Plessis; J.van Aswegen (capt. ), K.de Klerk; J.Strauss, H.Reyneke, N.Bezuidenhout.


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match details
Sur: P.Peterson; P.Fasano, D.Guevara, J.C.Legorburu, M.Vila; T.Greig, M.Ritacop; J.Legorburu, O.Siepe, R.Dau; A.Subotta, A.Morbillo; A.Borromel, D.López, C.Sozzani. Gazelles: J.Snyman, C.Fourie, P.Cronje, F.du Toit, A.Swartz; D.Snyman, B.Borgen; M.Eloff, D.MacDonald, J.van Eyk, J.van Aswegen (capt. ), J.Kritzinger, C.van Jaarsveld, A.Kruger, J.le Roux.


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match details
Mar del Plata: J.Viders; J.Prieto, C.Sosa, A.Uriaguereca, D.Fillippa; R.L ́Erario, R.Caparelli; R. Isabella, M.Riego, E.Feuillasier; D.Cordasco, W.Heath; C.Bonomo, N.Bosso, A.Bibbo.


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match details
Gazelles: C.Claasen, C.Fourie, P.Cronje, F.du Toit, J.Schlebusch, D.Snyman, P.Bayvel, J.Verster, M.du Plessis, M.Eloff, J.Kritzinger, K.de Klerk, N.Bezuidenhout, A.Kruger, J.Strauss.


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match details
Cuyo: E.Gandia; M.Brandi, R.Tarquini, O.Terranova (D.Muñiz), A: Dora; C: Navessi, L.Chacon; J.Nazassi, J.Navessi, J.P.Irrazabal; E.Sánchez, A.Cataneo; R.Iraneta, L.Ramos, R.Fariello. Gazelles: R.Carlson, A.Read, P.Cronje, A.Swartz, C.Fourie, J.Snyman, B.Borgen, M.du Plessis, D.MacDonald, J.van Aswegen (capt. ), K.de Klerk, J.Kritzinger, C.van Jaarsveld, A.Kruger, J.le Roux.


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match details
Córdoba: F.Mezquida; C.Antoraz, J.B.Martínez, R.Resella, G.Pispiero; R: Agüero, N.Trebucq; J.Aguad, J.Aguad, J.Peralta, C.Sosa; R.Pasaglia, J.Larson; R.P.Dun, H.Bianchi, A.Paz. Gazelles: C.Claasen, J.Germishuys, F.du Toit, A.Read, J.Jansen, J.Snyman, P.Bayvel, J.van Aswegen (capt. ), M.Eloff, J.Verster, K.de Klerk, J.Kritzinger, C.van Jaarsveld, H.Reyneke, J.Strauss.


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match details
Tucumán: J.Buccetto; J.Rojas, A.Fagalde, H.Navajas, C: Cisint; L.Castillo, C.Nieva; Bach, J.Ghiringheli (capt. ), J.Veglia; O.Ferrari, J.Iramain; J.Maxud, R.Roldán, C.Bonanno. Gazelles: R.Carlson, C.Fourie, P.Cronje, A.Read, A.Swartz, D.Snyman, P.Bayvel, J.van Aswegen, M.du Plessis, J.Verster; K.de Klerk, M.Eloff, N: Bezuidenhout, H.Reyneke, J.le Roux.


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match details
Salta: J.Eaton; H.Fernández Bravo, S.Pintos, H.Medina, M.Molina; G: Lamarca, R.Bordieu; J.Biasutti, G.Smith, O.Cardoso; L.Grand Jean, C.Fernández; M.Sánchez, E.Zancona, E.Araoz. Gazelles: R.Carlson, J.Jansen, P.Cronje, F.Du Toit, G.Germishuys, D.Snyman, P.Bayvel, J.Verster, M.du Plessis, C.van Jaarsveld, K.de Klerk, J.Kritzinger, N.Bezuidenhout, H.Reyneke, J.le Roux (Eloff).


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match details
Argentina: D.Morgan; A.Altberg, R.Matarazzo, A.Travaglini, E.Morgan; H.Porta, A.Etchegaray (capt. ); J.Whitman, H.Miguens, J.Cariacedo; J.Fernández, A.Anthony; F.Insúa, R.Handley, R.Foster. Gazelles: R.Carlson, P.Cronje, F.Du Toit, A.Swartz, D.Snyman, P.Bayvel, J.van Aswegen(capt. ), M.du Plessis, J.Verster; K.de Klerk, J.Kritzinger, N.Bezuidenhout, H.Reyneke, J.le Roux.


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match details
Santa Fe: E.Tenca; J.Trapaga, A.Caino, J.Rapela, C.Ibaquuer; J.Krezcam, A.Zilonka; A.Campanella, M.Celentano, O.Zitelli; P.Giardini, J.Sofredini; G.Abud, J.Tejerina, J.C.Colombo. Gazelles: C.Claasen, J.Germishuys, A.Swartz, A.Read, C.Fourie, J.Snyman, P.Bayvel, J.van Aswegen (capt. ), M.du Plessis, J.Verster, M.Eloff, J.Kritzinger; J.van Jaarsveld, A.Kruger, J.Strauss.


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match details
Buenos Aires: R.Espagnol; G.Pérez Leiros, L.Esteras, M.Dantilongue, A.Altberg; T.Harris Smith, L.Gradin (capt. ); N.Carbone, M.Morgan, M.Iglesias; R: Castro, J: Virasoro; O.Carbone, J.Dumas, M.Carluccio. Gazelles: R.Carlson, C.Fourie, F.Du Toit, J.Jansen, A.Swartz; J.Snyman, P.Bayvel, J.Verster, M.du Plessis, M.Eloff, K.de Klerk, J.Kritzinger, J.van Jaarsveld, H.Reyneke, J.le Roux.


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match details
Rosario: J.Uljich; C: García, G.Torneo, G.Seaton, A.Kniht, J.Escalante, R.Castagna; M.Chesta, M.Boaza, R.Imhoff; R.Suárez, M.Senatore; J.Gómez Keny, J.Constante, S.Furno. Gazelles: R.Carlson, C.Fourie, P.Cronje, A.Read, J.Germishuys, J.Snyman, B.Borge,; M.Eloff, M.du Plessis, J.Verster; K.de Klerk, J.Kritzinger, J.van Jaarsveld, A.Kruger, J.Strauss.


1972 South African Gazelles rugby union tour in Argentina, Match details
Argentina: D.Morgan; A: Altberg, R.Matarazzo, A: Travaglini, E.Morgan; H.Porta, A.Etchegaray (capt. ); J.Wittman, H.Miguens, J.Cariacedo; J.Fernández, A.Anthony; F.Insúa, R.Handley, R.Foster. Gazelles: R.Carlson (J.Snyman), C.Fourie, P.Cronje, F.du Toit, A.Swartz; D.Snyman, B.Borgen, J.van Aswegen (capt. ), M.du Plessis, J.Verster; K.de Klerk, J.Kritzinger, J.le Roux, H.Reyneke, J.van Jaarsveld.


1972 South African Grand Prix
The 1972 South African Grand Prix, formally the Sixth AA Grand Prix of South Africa (Afrikaans: Sesde AA Suid-Afrikaanse Grand Prix), was a Formula One motor race held at Kyalami on 4 March 1972. It was race 2 of 12 in both the 1972 World Championship of Drivers and the 1972 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The 79-lap race was won by McLaren driver Denny Hulme after he started from fifth position. Emerson Fittipaldi finished second for the Lotus team and McLaren driver Peter Revson came in third.


1972 South African Grand Prix, Report, Entry
A total of 27 cars were entered for this race. Although there was more than a month between the Argentine Grand Prix and South Africa, most cars were transported direct to Kyalami from Buenos Aires. There were few changes in the entry.


1972 South African Grand Prix, Report, Entry
Having missed the trip to Argentina due to a clashing Formula 5000 race, Mike Hailwood returned to Team Surtees. Jean-Pierre Beltoise also missed Buenos Aires, due to legal problems following an accident that had claimed the life of Ignazio Giunti in January 1971. Team Williams ran a second March-Cosworth for rising star Carlos Pace alongside their regular driver, Henri Pescarolo. A new team arrived in South Africa, the Team Eifelland Caravans outfit making its first appearance with Rolf Stommelen down to drive. As usual for Kyalami, the field was bolstered by local entries: Dave Charlton in a Lucky Strike-sponsored Lotus 72D, and pair of cars from Team Gunston for John Love (Surtees TS9) and Willie Ferguson (Brabham BT33).


1972 South African Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
The reigning World Champion, and winner of the opening round, Jackie Stewart secured pole position, for Elf Team Tyrrell, averaging a speed of 119.221 mph. Stewart beat Clay Regazzoni (Ferrari) and Emerson Fittipaldi (Lotus) by a few tenth of a second. Mike Hailwood was next up on the second row, joined by Denny Hulme in his McLaren M19A. A pair of Ferrari 312B2 were on row three, with Mario Andretti ahead of Jacky Ickx. They were joined by François Cevert in the second Tyrrell.


1972 South African Grand Prix, Report, Race
The race was held over 79 laps of the Kyalami circuit. At the start, Denny Hulme briefly held the lead before Jackie Stewart moved ahead, meanwhile Clay Regazzoni had a bad get away and was back in the midfield. The Tyrrell 003 of Stewart quickly built a lead while the battle for second between Hulme, Emerson Fittipaldi and Mike Hailwood detached itself from the rest of the field. The Yardley Team McLaren of Hulme began to overheat and this saw him dropped behind his rivals.


1972 South African Grand Prix, Report, Race
Hailwood, a few laps later, was able to pass Fittipaldi to move up to second and began to challenge Stewart for the lead. On lap 28, the rear suspension of Hailwood's Surtees TS9B failed and he retired from the race. Although this left Fittipaldi to attack Stewart, the Tyrrell driver stayed ahead, only to suffer a gearbox failure on lap 45. Fittipaldi inherited the lead, with Hulme right on his tail. The Brazilian now ran into handling problems and this enable Hulme to regain the lead on lap 57, from which he would go to win.


1972 South African Grand Prix, Report, Race
Fittipaldi was still in a strong second place as the gap between him and the third place, Chris Amon was large. The gap became even bigger where Amon's Matra MS120C developed a serious vibration. This saw him drop down the order and finish 3 laps adrift in 15th. Third place thus went to the second McLaren, of Peter Revson.


1972 South African Grand Prix, Report, Race
Hulme won in a time of 1hr 45.49.1mins., averaging a speed of 114.898 mph, and was over 14 seconds ahead of Fititpaldi. Revson was a further 12.7 seconds behind. Only other drivers to complete the full race distance were Mario Andretti (Ferrari) and Ronnie Peterson (March). This victory gave Hulme a six-point the lead in the World Championship.


1972 South African Open (tennis)
The 1972 South African Open, also known by its sponsored name South African Breweries Open, was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at the Ellis Park Tennis Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa that was part of the 1972 Commercial Union Assurance Grand Prix. It was the 69th edition of the tournament and was held from 8 April through 13 April 1972. The tournament had a record attendance of 85,000. World Championship Tennis (WCT) players were barred from participating in the event. Cliff Richey  won the men's singles titles and the accompanying £2,570 first-prize money while Evonne Goolagong earned £1,030 first-prize money for her singles title.


1972 South African Open (tennis), Finals, Men's Doubles
Bob Hewitt /  Frew McMillan defeated  Georges Goven /  Ray Moore 6–2, 6–2, 6–4


1972 South African Open (tennis), Finals, Women's Doubles
Evonne Goolagong /  Helen Gourlay defeated  Winnie Shaw /  Joyce Williams 6–4, 6–4


1972 South African Open (tennis), Finals, Mixed Doubles
Virginia Wade /  Martin Mulligan defeated  Patricia Pretorius /  Frew McMillan 6–0, 4–6, 6–4


1972 South American Junior Championships in Athletics
The ninth South American Junior Championships in Athletics were held in Asunción, Paraguay from October 21–25, 1972.


1972 South American Junior Championships in Athletics, Participation (unofficial)
Detailed result lists can be found on the "World Junior Athletics History" website. An unofficial count yields the number of about 194 athletes from about 8 countries:  Argentina (40), Brazil (32), Chile (33), Colombia (22), Ecuador (6), Paraguay (24), Peru (22), Uruguay (15).


1972 South American Junior Championships in Athletics, Medal summary
Medal winners are published for men and womenComplete results can be found on the "World Junior Athletics History" website.


1972 South American Open (tennis)
The 1972 South American Open was a men's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 27 November through 1 December 1972. It was held the fifth edition of the tournament and was a non-tour event, i.e. not part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit. Karl Meiler won the singles title.


1972 South American Open (tennis), Finals, Singles
Karl Meiler defeated  Guillermo Vilas 6–7, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4


1972 South American Open (tennis), Finals, Doubles
Jaime Fillol /  Jaime Pinto-Bravo defeated  Iván Molina /  Barry Phillips-Moore 2–6, 7–6, 6–2


1972 South Australian Tennis Championships
The 1972 South Australian Championships was a  combined men's and women's Grand Prix tennis tournament held in Adelaide, Australia and played on outdoor grass courts. The tournament was held from 17 January through 23 January 1972. Alex Metreveli and Evonne Goolagong won the singles titles.


1972 South Australian Tennis Championships – Men's Singles
Alex Metreveli defeated Kim Warwick, 6–3, 6–3, 7–6, to win the 1972 South Australian Tennis Championships singles event. The First Round was the best of 3 sets, while all other rounds were the best of 5 sets.


1972 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
The 1972 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as an independent in the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. The Gamecocks finished the season 4–7 overall.


1972 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
South Carolina did not play Atlantic Coast Conference teams Duke, Maryland and North Carolina. The Gamecocks were ACC members from its formation in 1953 through the 1970-71 academic year. South Carolina was a football independent in 1971, but played all seven ACC schools.


1972 South Dakota Coyotes football team
The 1972 South Dakota Coyotes football team was an American football team that represented the University of South Dakota in the North Central Conference (NCC) during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. In its seventh season under head coach Joe Salem, the team compiled a 9–1 record (6–1 against NCC opponents), tied for the NCC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 296 to 144. The team played its home games at Inman Field in Vermillion, South Dakota.


1972 South Dakota gubernatorial election
The 1972 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972, to elect a Governor of South Dakota. It was the last election in South Dakota to elect the governor for a two-year term after a 1972 state constitutional amendment established a four-year term. Democratic nominee Richard F. Kneip was re-elected, defeating Republican nominee Carveth Thompson.


1972 South Korean constitutional referendum
A constitutional referendum was held in South Korea on 21 November 1972. President Park Chung-hee had suspended the constitution and dissolved the National Assembly in October. Work began almost immediately on a new constitution. The finished product, the Yushin Constitution, was a severely authoritarian document that dramatically expanded the president's powers and allowed him to run for an unlimited number of six-year terms. For all intents and purposes, the document concentrated all governing power in Park's hands.


1972 South Korean constitutional referendum
According to official figures, the new document was approved by 92.3% of voters, with a turnout of 91.9%. The adoption of the constitution upon the announcement of the official referendum results ushered in the Fourth Republic of South Korea.


1972 South Korean presidential election
Presidential elections were held in South Korea in December 1972 following the promulgation of the Yushin Constitution, which created the National Conference for Unification, a body whose functions included being an electoral college for presidential elections. Incumbent President Park Chung-hee claimed that Western-style liberal democracy would bring more chaos to the economically struggling nation than it could afford. In contrast, he argued that the Yushin system created a "Korean-style democracy" with a strong, unchallenged presidency. He argued this system was necessary to keep the country stable.


1972 South Korean presidential election, National Conference for Unification election
The 2,359 members of the first National Conference for Unification were elected to their six-year term on 5 December 1972, with a voter turnout of 70%. All candidates were required to run as independents. The Constitution gave the body many powers, such as forming policies related to inter-Korean relationship, and determining the president as well as one-third of the National Assembly. However, the body was little more than a figurehead, as all of its actions were controlled by the president.


1972 South Korean presidential election, National Conference for Unification election
The newly sworn-in members of the National Conference for Unification convened on 23 December to elect Park to a fourth term as president. With no opposition candidates, Park was elected with the support of 2,357 out of the 2,359 delegates. The elections were regarded as a formality.


1972 South Korean presidential election, Presidential election
In order to be elected, a candidate had to receive the vote of over 50% of the incumbent members of the National Council for Unification. With 2,359 delegates in office, Park had to receive at least 1,180 votes to be elected. He received 2,357 votes, 99.92% of the total possible.


1972 South Korean presidential election, Presidential election
As there was only one candidate registered, the only way the deputies could vote against Park was by casting invalid ballots. One of the two deputies who did that, Song Dong-heon from Daejeon-1 District, revealed later in his life that he purposefully wrote "박정의" (Park Chung-ee) instead of "박정희" (Park Chung-hee) on his ballot in order to protest the dictatorial regime.


1972 South Pacific Touring Series
The 1972 South Pacific Touring Series was an Australian motor racing competition for Group E Series Production Touring Cars. It was the third running of an annual series which had first been contested as the 1970 Tasman Touring Series.


1972 South Pacific Touring Series
The series was won by John Goss driving for McLeod Ford in a Ford Falcon GTHO.


1972 South Pacific Touring Series, Schedule
Each round was held as a support race to a round of the 1972 Tasman Championship for Drivers.


1972 South Pacific Touring Series, Classes
Competing cars were classified into four classes according to an assessed C.P. Units value for each vehicle. Under this system, the engine capacity of the car (in litres) was multiplied by the retail price of the car (in Australian dollars) to arrive at a CP Unit value.


1972 South Pacific Touring Series, Points system
Points were awarded on a 4,3,2,1 basis for the first four outright places at each round. In addition, points were awarded on a 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 basis for the first nine places in each class at each round.


1972 South Pacific Touring Series, Points system
Points were only awarded to a driver conditional upon them competing in the same make and model of car entered by the same entrant in all four rounds of the series. The series win was awarded to a driver and entrant, who both received equal recognition.


1972 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1972 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place from March 2–4, 1972 at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium in Greenville, South Carolina. The East Carolina Pirates, led by head coach Tom Quinn, won their first Southern Conference title and received the automatic berth to the 1972 NCAA Tournament.


1972 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Format
All of the conference's eight members were eligible for the tournament. Teams were seeded based on conference winning percentage. The tournament used a preset bracket consisting of three rounds.


1972 Southern Illinois Salukis football team
The 1972 Southern Illinois Salukis football team was an American football team that represented Southern Illinois University (now known as Southern Illinois University Carbondale) as an independent during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. Under sixth-year head coach Dick Towers, the team compiled a 1–8–1 record. The team played its home games at McAndrew Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.


1972 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team
The 1972 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. In their fourth year under head coach P. W. Underwood, the team compiled a 3–7–1 record.


1972 Southwark by-election
The Southwark by-election, 1972 was a by-election held on 4 May 1972 for the British House of Commons constituency of Southwark. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of the serving Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP), Ray Gunter.


1972 Southwark by-election
The election was won by Harry Lamborn of the Labour Party.


1972 Southwark by-election, Candidates
The Labour candidate was Harry Lamborn, who represented the constituency on the Greater London Council, of which he was Deputy Chair. The Conservative candidate was Jeffrey Gordon.


1972 Southwark by-election, Candidates
Gunter, who had resigned over the issue of the Common Market, had had a majority of nearly 10,000 and the seat was expected to remain a Labour one. Lamborn was described as 'a fervent anti-marketeer'. His main platform was opposition to the Government's Housing Finance Bill, which was expected to raise rents for council tenants. The constituency was reported as having more rented accommodation than any other in the country. The third candidate was an independent, Brian McDermott, who stood as the Actors Anti-Heath's Union-Bashing Tactics candidate.


1972 Southwark by-election, Polling
Polling took place on the same day as the local elections outside London, in which Labour made very large gains. Labour won the seat comfortably with a swing of 11 per cent. The Conservatives took some comfort from the fact that in the by-election for the safe Kingston seat the same day, they retained it against only a small swing to Labour.


1972 Southwestern Louisiana Bulldogs football team
The 1972 Southwestern Louisiana Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) in the Southland Conference during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. In their twelfth year under head coach Russ Faulkinberry, the team compiled an 5–6 record.


1972 Soviet Cup
The 1972 Soviet Cup was an association football cup competition of the Soviet Union. The winner of the competition, Torpedo Moscow qualified for the continental tournament.


1972 Soviet First League
The 1972 Soviet First League was the second season of the Soviet First League and the 32nd season of the Soviet second tier league competition.


1972 Soviet Second League
1972 Soviet Second League was a Soviet competition in the Soviet Second League.


1972 Soviet Second League, Zone 1
The 1972 Football Championship of Ukrainian SSR was the 42nd season of association football competition of the Ukrainian SSR, which was part of the Soviet Second League in Zone 1. The season started on 6 April 1972.


1972 Soviet Second League, Zone 1
The 1972 Football Championship of Ukrainian SSR was won by FC Spartak Ivano-Frankivsk.


1972 Soviet Top League, Overview
Sixteen (16) teams competed for the championships, and Zarya Voroshilovgrad won the championship.


1972 Soviet nuclear tests
The Soviet Union's 1972 nuclear test series was a group of 24 nuclear tests conducted in 1972. These tests  followed the 1971 Soviet nuclear tests series and preceded the 1973 Soviet nuclear tests series.


1972 Spanish Grand Prix
The 1972 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Jarama on May 1, 1972. It was race 3 of 12 in both the 1972 World Championship of Drivers and the 1972 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The race marked the first time two brothers raced together in F1 simultaneously, Emerson and Wilson Fittipaldi. The elder Fittipaldi was a last-minute substitute for Brabham's Carlos Reutemann, who had injured his ankle in a Formula 2 race the previous weekend at Thruxton, England. The 90-lap race was won by Lotus driver Emerson Fittipaldi after he started from third position. Jacky Ickx finished second for the Ferrari team and his teammate Clay Regazzoni came in third. After the race the World Drivers' Championship was tied at 15 points between Emerson Fittipaldi and Denny Hulme.


1972 Speedway World Pairs Championship
The 1972 Speedway World Pairs Championship was the third FIM Speedway World Pairs Championship. The final took place in Borås, Sweden. The championship was won by England (24 points) who beat New Zealand after Run-Off (24 points also) and Sweden B (22 points) who beat Sweden A after a run-off.


1972 Speedway World Pairs Championship, World final
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fellns - non-starter • nc - non-classify


1972 Speedway World Team Cup
The 1972 Speedway World Team Cup was the 13th edition of the FIM Speedway World Team Cup to determine the team world champions.


1972 Speedway World Team Cup
The final took place at the Olching Speedwaybahn in Olching, West Germany. The title was won by Great Britain for the third time.


1972 Speedway World Team Cup, World final
Ivan Mauger - 11John Louis - 9Ray Wilson - 8Terry Betts - 8Ronnie Moore - dnr


1972 Speedway World Team Cup, World final
Anatoly Kuzmin - 6Viktor Kalmykov - 5Viktor Trofimov - 5Grigory Khlinovsky - 5Valery Gordeev - dnr


1972 Speedway World Team Cup, World final
Zenon Plech - 7Henryk Glücklich - 6Paweł Waloszek - 5Zdzisław Dobrucki - 3Marek Cieślak - 0


1972 Speedway World Team Cup, World final
Christer Löfqvist - 6Anders Michanek - 4Tommy Jansson 4Jan Simensen 3Göte Nordin 1


1972 Speedway World Team Cup, World final
Run-off for silverSoviet Union 7 (Kalmykov 3, Kuzmin 2, Khlinovsky 1, Trofimov 1) bt Poland 5 (Waloszek 3, Plech 2, Glücklich 0, Dobrucki 0)


1972 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season
The 1972 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 53rd year with the National Football League and thirteenth in St. Louis. On September 2, Bill Bidwill purchased the stock of his brother Charles "Stormy" Bidwill to become sole owner of the Cardinals. The adopted sons of Charles and Violet Bidwill, the two had co-owned the team since their mother's death in January 1962.


1972 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season
After starting at 2–2, with wins over 1970 and 1971 playoff participants Baltimore and Minnesota, the Cardinals went 0–7–1, then won their final two games over the Rams and Eagles to finish at 4–9–1 for the second consecutive season and third time in the past four. Second-year head coach Bob Hollway was fired December 18, the day after the regular season finale, succeeded a month later by San Diego State head coach Don Coryell.


1972 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1972 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 91st season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 81st season in the National League. The Cardinals went 75–81 during the season and finished fourth in the National League East, 21½ games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates.


1972 St. Louis Cardinals season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1972 St. Louis Cardinals season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1972 St. Louis Cardinals season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1972 St. Louis Cardinals season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1972 St. Louis Cardinals season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1972 Stanford Cardinals football team
The 1972 Stanford Cardinals football team represented Stanford University in the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. Following the departure of head coach John Ralston for the Denver Broncos in early January, defensive backs coach Jack Christiansen was promoted to head coach. Stanford finished at 6–5, but were 2–5 in Pacific-8 Conference play, tied for sixth.


1972 Stanford Cardinals football team
The school changed its nickname from "Indians" to "Cardinals" in March after objections from Native American students and a vote by the student senate.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1972 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1971–72 season, and the culmination of the 1972 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers. It was the Rangers first appearance in the finals since 1950. The Bruins were making their first appearance since their victory in the 1970 Finals. It was the second Boston-New York Final series, the other being the 1929 Finals. The Bruins won the best-of-seven series, four games to two.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals
This was only the second Stanley Cup Final contested by New York in which the Rangers hosted all of their home games. The first such Final, held in 1929, had lasted only two games. All other previous Finals contested by the Rangers had partly or entirely coincided with an annual circus formerly held at Madison Square Garden, compelling the Rangers to play Finals games at neutral sites and/or at the venues of their opponents.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Paths to the Finals
Boston defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4–1 and the St. Louis Blues 4–0 to advance to the final.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Paths to the Finals
New York defeated the defending champion Montreal Canadiens 4–2 and the Chicago Black Hawks 4–0 to set up an "Original Six" final.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Game summaries
Bobby Orr, who tallied 4 goals and 4 assists in the series, won the Conn Smythe Trophy for the second time. It was also Orr's second Cup-clinching goal, having accomplished both feats in the 1970 finals. Phil Esposito had 41 shots in the series but was held without a goal.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Game summaries, Game one
Game one in Boston saw both teams play poorly. The Bruins at one point led 5–1 as Ken Hodge completed a hat trick, and Hodge and Derek Sanderson scored short-handed goals on the same Ranger power play at the end of the first period. However, the Rangers tied the game with goals from Gilbert, Hatfield, Tkaczuk, and Bruce MacGregor. With 2:16 remaining in the third period, Garnet "Ace" Bailey beat Rangers star defenseman Brad Park to have the Bruins prevail 6–5.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Game summaries, Game one
Gary Doak of the Rangers was ejected from the game after a heated argument with referee Bill Friday over a penalty he received at 18:50 of the first period.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Game summaries, Game two
Game two had Gilles Villemure replace Ed Giacomin in goal for the Rangers. He played well, but the Bruins did too and won 2–1.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Game summaries, Game three
In New York, Giacomin was back in goal for game three as the Rangers won 5–2. Brad Park opened the scoring with a power play goal and scored another in the first period. Rod Gilbert also had two goals in the game.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Game summaries, Game four
Giacomin was having trouble with a knee he injured during the Chicago series and lost game four 3–2.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Game summaries, Game five
Game five in Boston had Villemure again replace Giacomin. Boston led 2–1 after two periods. However, Bobby Rousseau scored twice in the third period, his second at 12:45 turned out to be the winner in a 3–2 win for the Rangers.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Game summaries, Game six
Game six in New York saw Boston play flawlessly and Gerry Cheevers picked up a shutout, 3–0. Bobby Orr's first-period marker ended up standing as the Stanley Cup-winning goal, and he also assisted on the Bruins' second goal. Orr spent 10 minutes in the penalty box after arguing with referee Art Skov but upon his return on the ice played a crucial role in killing off a penalty to the Bruins. Wayne Cashman scored two goals, one of which trickled in behind Gilles Villemure.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Broadcasting
Hockey Night in Canada moved all playoff coverage from CBC to CTV (in actuality, MacLaren Advertising, Ltd., the actual rights holders of HNIC at the time, worked out arrangements with CTV to move the full NHL playoffs there) to avoid conflict with the lengthy NABET strike against the CBC.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Broadcasting
In the United States, CBS took a rather calculated risk in not televising the game five match on May 9 (CBS aired regular programming, including the original Hawaii Five-O in that time period on that Tuesday night). This was despite the fact that game five was a potential clincher with the Bruins up three games to one on the Rangers. CBS ultimately lucked out (since the Rangers won game five 3-2), and televised the clincher (game six) on Thursday night, May 11.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Stanley Cup engraving
The 1972 Stanley Cup was presented to Bruins alternate captain Johnny Bucyk by NHL President Clarence Campbell following the Bruins 3–0 win over the Rangers in game six.


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Stanley Cup engraving
The following Bruins players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup


1972 Stanley Cup Finals, Stanley Cup engraving, Stanley Cup engraving
The Boston Bruins' name was misspelled as BQSTQN BRUINS with two "Q"s instead of "O"s. This error was corrected on the replica cup created in 1992–93.


1972 Star World Championships
The 1972 Star World Championships were held at Puerto Azul in Naiguatá, Venezuela in 1972.


1972 Stockholm Open
The 1972 Stockholm Open was a men's tennis tournament played on hard courts and part of the 1972 Commercial Union Assurance Grand Prix and took place at the Kungliga tennishallen in Stockholm, Sweden. It was the fourth edition of the tournament and was held from 4 November through 10 November 1972. Stan Smith won the singles title.


1972 Stockholm Open, Finals, Doubles
Tom Okker /  Marty Riessen defeated  Roy Emerson /  Colin Dibley, 7–5, 7–6


1972 Stockholm Open – Doubles
Tom Gorman and Stan Smith were the defending champions, but lost in the semifinals this year.


1972 Stockholm Open – Doubles
Tom Okker and Marty Riessen won the title, defeating Roy Emerson and Colin Dibley 7–5, 7–6 in the final.


1972 Stockholm Open – Singles
Arthur Ashe was the defending champion, but did not participate this year.


1972 Stockholm Open – Singles
Stan Smith won the title, defeating Tom Okker 6–4, 6–3 in the final.


1972 Sugar Bowl (December)
The 1972 Sugar Bowl (December) was the 39th edition of the college football bowl game, played at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Sunday, December 31. Part of the 1972–73 bowl game season, it featured the second-ranked Oklahoma Sooners of the Big Eight Conference and the independent #5 Penn State Nittany Lions. It was played for the first time on New Year's Eve, at night, and Oklahoma shut out Penn State, 14–0.


1972 Sugar Bowl (December)
The shutout was the first for Penn State in over six years, and it was their first bowl loss in a decade.


1972 Sugar Bowl (December)
This was the only Sugar Bowl between 1950 and January 1995 without a team from the Southeastern Conference (SEC).


1972 Sugar Bowl (December), Teams, Oklahoma
The Sooners' only loss was at Colorado. They broke a three-year losing streak to rival Nebraska.


1972 Sugar Bowl (December), Teams, Penn State
After dropping their opener at Tennessee, Penn State had won ten straight.


1972 Sugar Bowl (December), Game summary
The game kicked off on New Year's Eve at 8 pm CST. ABC rejected the Sugar Bowl's request for a 7 pm CST kickoff in order to televise The F.B.I. New Orleans and Baton Rouge were blacked out.


1972 Sugar Bowl (December), Game summary
Penn State was without their leading rusher, junior running back John Cappelletti, who was suffering from a virus and a temperature of 102 °F (39 °C). Without the future Heisman Trophy winner, the Lions' defense was forced to step up and it held the Sooners explosive Wishbone offense to only 14 points while forcing eight fumbles, recovering five. However, Oklahoma out gained the Lions 543 to 196 yards, 278 to 49 on the ground.


1972 Sugar Bowl (December), Aftermath
Oklahoma was forced to forfeit nine games from the 1972 season after they had used two ineligible freshmen. Despite the forfeit, Penn State refused to accept the win in the 1972 Sugar Bowl, thus the NCAA does not recognize the Penn State forfeit win over Oklahoma. The NCAA also stated that forfeits were not part of the NCAA sanctions levied against the Sooners. The NCAA says it only restricted OU's scholarships, TV appearances, and bowl appearances.