As the oldest rivalry in international rugby, the Calcutta Cup — contested between England and Scotland — has produced numerous unforgettable moments, alongside a fascinating origin narrative.
The inaugural match took place in 1871, and the Calcutta Cup has been contested since 1879. Out of 143 matches, England has secured victory 77 times, while Scotland has triumphed on 44 occasions, with 19 matches ending in a draw.
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Here is all the essential information regarding one of rugby’s most historic contests.
What is the origin of the Calcutta Cup?
The cup is the oldest trophy in international rugby, established five years prior to the Triple Crown and over 50 years before the Bledisloe Cup, which is contested between Australia and New Zealand.
Its roots trace back to 1872 in India, where a rugby match between teams representing England and Scotland was held in the city now known as Kolkata.
The Calcutta Rugby Football Club was founded in 1873, but due to a decline in interest in the sport, the club disbanded in 1878.
To commemorate the club’s existence, the remaining members melted down their leftover rupees to create a trophy, which is now recognized as the Calcutta Cup, and was presented to the Rugby Football Union.
Since then, it has been consistently contested between England and Scotland starting in 1879.
What makes the trophy significant?
Rich in history, the cup represents one of the few instances where England and Scotland compete against each other annually in major sports.
The trophy itself is also distinctive and cherished by both nations. The original version was handcrafted and is currently displayed at the Museum of Rugby in Twickenham.
Memorable moments in Calcutta Cup history:
The cup’s history is filled with remarkable encounters.
In 1986, Scotland achieved their largest victory with a 33-6 win at Murrayfield.
At the beginning of the new millennium, Scotland again emerged victorious in 2000 with a 19-13 win, halting England’s pursuit of a Grand Slam after they had already defeated Ireland, Wales, France, and Italy.
The 2019 match is often regarded as one of the most extraordinary games in the rivalry’s history. Scotland appeared to be heading for a significant loss, trailing by 31 points after just half an hour, but made a stunning comeback, aided by an outstanding performance from Finn Russell.
They even took the lead late in the second half and seemed poised for a memorable win, until George Ford scored and converted in the 84th minute, leveling the match at 38-38.
Recent encounters:
Scotland has had the upper hand in recent matchups, with England, who will be traveling to Edinburgh this week, having won only one of their last five meetings.
Additionally, they have secured just one victory at Murrayfield in the past decade, the site of Saturday’s match. Last year’s win also prevented Scotland from achieving five consecutive victories for the first time in history.
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2025: England 16-15 Scotland – Twickenham
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2024: Scotland 30-21 England – Murrayfield
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2023: England 23-29 Scotland – Twickenham
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2022: Scotland 20-17 England – Murrayfield
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2021: England 6-11 Scotland – Twickenham
