Calcutta Cup

The Calcutta Cup is a rugby union trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between England and Scotland. It is currently held by Scotland, who claimed the trophy by defeating the holders England 15–9 at Murrayfield in the 2008 Six Nations Championship on 8 March 2008.

The Calcutta Club

On Christmas Day 1872, a game of rugby football, between 20 players representing England on the one side and 20 representing Scotland, Ireland and Wales on the other, was played in Calcutta.

The match was such a success that it was repeated a week later: the game of rugby had reached India. These lovers of rugby football wanted to form a club in the area and the aforementioned matches were the agents which led to the formation of the Calcutta Football Club in January 1873.

The Calcutta Club joined the Rugby Football Union in 1874. Despite the Indian climate not being entirely suitable for playing rugby, the club prospered during that first year. However, when the free bar had to be discontinued, the membership took an appreciable drop. Other sports, such as tennis and polo, which were considered to be more suited to the local climate, were making inroads into the numbers of gentlemen available. The members decided to disband but keen to perpetuate the name of the club, they withdrew the club's funds from the bank; which were in Silver Rupees, had them melted down and made into a cup which they presented to the RFU in 1878, with the provision that it should be competed for annually.

The Cup

The cup is of Indian workmanship, approximately 18 inches (45 cm) high, the body is finely engraved with three king cobras forming the handles. The domed lid is surmounted by an elephant which is, it is said, copied from the Viceroy's own stock and is complete with a howdah. The inscription on the Cup's wooden base reads: THE CALCUTTA CUP.

The base has attached to it additional plates which record the date of each match played with the name of the winning country and the names of the two captains. There is an anomaly in the recording of the winning country on the base of the Cup. It was first played for in 1879, but the plinth shows records extending back to the first international in 1871.

The original trophy is in a very fragile state following many years of poor treatment and is not in a strong enough condition to attend functions or go on tours. When won by England the original Calcutta Cup is put on public display in the Museum of Rugby in Twickenham, where it slowly turns around in a purpose built showcase. Both nations have full size replicas of the Cup. Whilst the original was handmade by Indian craftsmen, the replicas were made using modern technology.

In 1988 the cup was damaged by the antics of some drunken players, including England number eight Dean Richards and Scotland flanker John Jeffrey who played football with the Calcutta Cup along Princes Street in Edinburgh. Jeffrey received a six-month ban from the SRU whilst Richards was given a one-match sentence from England.

The Competition

Despite the initial request of the Calcutta Club that the trophy be used as rugby's answer to soccer's FA Cup, the RFU refused to turn the Calcutta Cup into a knock-out competition for English club sides. They believed that ‘competitiveness’ ran against the amateur ethos and instead decided that a game should be played each year between England and Scotland and whoever wins should keep it for that year. The first Calcutta Cup match was played at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, on 10 March 1879 and ended in a draw; Scotland scored a drop goal and England a goal. The following year on 28 February 1880 England became the first winners of the Calcutta Cup when they defeated Scotland by 2 goals & 3 tries to 1 goal in Manchester. Matches have continued on an annual basis ever since except for two interruptions due to the World Wars between 1915-1919 and 1940-1946.

As of 2008, 115 Calcutta Cup matches have taken place. Currently, this game is the annual match between the two nations in the Six Nations Championship. The ground alternates between Murrayfield Stadium in Scotland (on even years) and Twickenham Stadium (on odd years).

In 2004, the two countries' rugby governing bodies, the Rugby Football Union (England) and the Scottish Rugby Union, were considering a plan to add a second Calcutta Cup fixture each year, outside of the Six Nations. The second fixture would be hosted by the away nation in the Six Nations fixture of the same year. Under that plan, one nation would have to win both matches to take the Cup off its current holder. Due to a largely unfavourable reaction, the proposal soon disappeared from view.

Results

Overall Calcutta Cup wins:

* England - 62 (54%)
* Scotland - 39 (34%)
* draw - 14 (12%)

By year

rugbybox
date = 2008
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 15 – 9
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 2007
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 42 – 20
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 2006
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 18 – 12
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 2005
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 43 – 22
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 2004
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 13 – 35
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 2003
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 40 – 9
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 2002
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 3 – 29
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 2001
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 43 – 3
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 2000
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 19 – 13
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1999
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 24 – 21
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1998
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 20 – 34
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1997
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 41 – 13
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1996
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 9 – 18
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1995
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 24 – 12
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1994
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 14 – 15
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1993
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 26 – 12
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1992
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 7 – 25
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1991
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 21 – 12
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1990
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 13 – 7
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1989
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 12 – 12
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1988
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 6 – 9
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1987
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 21 – 12
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1986
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 33 – 6
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1985
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 10 – 7
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1984
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 18 – 6
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1983
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 12 – 22
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1982
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 9 – 9
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1981
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 23 – 17
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1980
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 18 – 30
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1979
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 7 – 7
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1978
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 0 – 15
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1977
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 26 – 6
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1976
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 22 – 12
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1975
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 7 – 6
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1974
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 16 – 14
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1973
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 20 – 13
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1972
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 23 – 9
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1971
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 15 – 16
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1970
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 14 – 5
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1969
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 8 – 3
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1968
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 6 – 8
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1967
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 27 – 14
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1966
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 6 – 3
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1965
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 3 – 3
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1964
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 15 – 6
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1963
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 10 – 8
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1962
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 3 – 3
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1961
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 6 – 0
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1960
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 12 – 21
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1959
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 3 – 3
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1958
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 3 – 3
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1957
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 16 – 3
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1956
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 6 – 11
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1955
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 9 – 6
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1954
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 3 – 13
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1953
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 26 – 8
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1952
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 3 – 19
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1951
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 5 – 3
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1950
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 13 – 11
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1949
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 19 – 3
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1948
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 6 – 3
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1947
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 24 – 5
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1939
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 6 – 9
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1938
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 16 – 21
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1937
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 3 – 6
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1936
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 9 – 8
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1935
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 10 – 7
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1934
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 6 – 3
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1933
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 3 – 0
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1932
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 16 – 3
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1931
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 28 – 19
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1930
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 0 – 0
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1929
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 12 – 6
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1928
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 6 – 0
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1927
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 21 – 13
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1926
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 9 – 17
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1925
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 14 – 11
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Murrayfield, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1924
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 19 – 0
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1923
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 6 – 8
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Inverleith, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1922
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 11 – 5
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1921
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 0 – 18
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Inverleith, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1920
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 13 – 4
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1914
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 15 – 16
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Inverleith, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1913
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 3 – 0
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1912
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 8 – 3
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Inverleith, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1911
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 13 – 8
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Twickenham, Englandrugbybox
date = 1910
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 5 – 14
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Inverleith, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1909
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 8 – 18
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Richmond, Englandrugbybox
date = 1908
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 16 – 10
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Inverleith, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1907
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 3 – 8
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Blackheath, Englandrugbybox
date = 1906
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 3 – 9
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Inverleith, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1905
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 0 – 8
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Richmond, Englandrugbybox
date = 1904
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 6 – 3
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Inverleith, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1903
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 6 – 10
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Richmond, Englandrugbybox
date = 1902
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 3 – 6
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Inverleith, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1901
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 3 – 18
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Blackheath, Englandrugbybox
date = 1900
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 0 – 0
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Inverleith, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1899
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 0 – 5
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Blackheath, Englandrugbybox
date = 1898
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 3 – 3
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Powderhall, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1897
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 8 – 3
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Fallowfield, Englandrugbybox
date = 1896
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 11 – 0
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Hampden Park, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1895
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 3 – 6
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Richmond, Englandrugbybox
date = 1894
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 6 – 0
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Raeburn Place, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1893
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 0 – 8
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Headingley, Englandrugbybox
date = 1892
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 0 – 5
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Raeburn Place, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1891
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 3 – 9
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Richmond, Englandrugbybox
date = 1890
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 0 – 6
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Raeburn Place, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1887
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 1 – 1
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Whalley Range, Englandrugbybox
date = 1886
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 0 – 0
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Raeburn Place, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1884
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 3 – 1
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Blackheath, Englandrugbybox
date = 1883
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 1 – 2
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Raeburn Place, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1882
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 0 – 2
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Whalley Range, Englandrugbybox
date = 1881
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 4 – 4
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Raeburn Place, Scotlandrugbybox
date = 1880
home = ru-rt|ENG
score = 9 – 3
away = ru|SCO
stadium = Whalley Range, Englandrugbybox
date = 1879
home = ru-rt|SCO
score = 3 – 3
away = ru|ENG
stadium = Raeburn Place, Scotland

The only other England-Scotland match occurred during the 1991 Rugby World Cup; in this instance the Calcutta Cup was not played for; England triumphed 9-6.

Records

The current record number of points scored by a player in a Calcutta Cup game was set by Jonny Wilkinson in 2007 when he scored 27 points. The previous record of 24 points was held by Rob Andrew.

See also

* Millennium Trophy
* Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy
* Triple Crown Trophy
* England national team
* Scotland national team
* Six Nations

The other Calcutta Cup

In 1884 Calcutta Cricket and Football Club once again set up a rugby section and in 1890 set up an inter club trophy, the Calcutta Rugby Union Challenge Cup, promptly christened the Calcutta Cup. [http://www.ccfc1792.com/heritage.asp]

The Cup is currently help by Future Hope Harlequins [http://www.futurehope.net/] who beat CC&FC to retain the trophy. [http://www.scrum.com/39_46645.php]

External links

* [http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=291272006 Five famous victories to lift Scottish Hearts] , The Scotsman, February 25, 2006

* [http://www.scottishrugby.org/shadomx/apps/fms/fmsdownload.cfm?file_uuid=A25BAF90-A653-B702-1F28-A89E8D4D5CD8&siteName=sru The Calcutta Cup (PDF)] explained on the website of the Scottish Rugby Union.

* [http://www.army.mod.uk/aru/history/index.htm#6 British Army Rugby Union] The Army and the Calcutta Cup (1878-9).