1880-81 Home Nations rugby union matches
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
friendlies held between the England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
, Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
, Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
and Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
national rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
teams. This season is most notable for the introduction of Wales as an international rugby union nation, playing their first ever match in a game against England. Although Wales were humiliated by a crushing defeat it did not stop rugby union being adopted by Wales as the country's national sport.
The only recognised competition held between the countries was the annual Calcutta Cup
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 England's since the 2009 Six Nations Championship....
match, contested between England and Scotland. It was the third challenge for the Cup.
Results
Scoring system
The matches for this season were decided on goals scored. A goal was awarded for a successful conversion after a tryTry
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
, for a dropped goal or for a goal from mark
Goal from mark
A goal from mark is a former scoring move in rugby football. It occurred when a player "marked" the ball by making a fair catch and shouting "mark". From this position the player could not be tackled. The player then had the option of a free kick, which can be taken as a place, drop, or tap kick...
. If a game was drawn, any unconverted tries were tallied to give a winner. If there was still no clear winner, the match was declared a draw.
England vs. Ireland
England: A. N. HornbyA. N. Hornby
Albert Neilson Hornby, commonly designated A. N. Hornby, nicknamed Monkey Hornby was one of the best known sportsmen in England during the nineteenth century excelling in both rugby and cricket...
(Manchester
Manchester Rugby Club
Manchester Rugby Club, formerly known as Manchester Football Club, are one of the oldest rugby union clubs in existence, having been founded in 1860, 11 years before the RFU....
), CH Sawyer (Broughton
Broughton Rangers
Broughton Rangers was a British rugby football, and subsequently a rugby league club. It was based in Broughton, Salford.-History:Broughton Rangers was founded in 1877 as Broughton and added Rangers for its second season...
), L Stokes
Lennard Stokes
Dr. Lennard Stokes was a rugby union international who represented England from 1875 to 1881. He also captained his country on five occasions, notably in the first ever match against Wales...
(Blackheath) capt., WR Richardson (Manchester
Manchester Rugby Club
Manchester Rugby Club, formerly known as Manchester Football Club, are one of the oldest rugby union clubs in existence, having been founded in 1860, 11 years before the RFU....
), HH Taylor
Henry Taylor (rugby union)
Henry Taylor was a rugby union international who represented England from 1879 to 1882.-Early life:Henry Taylor was born on September 21, 1858 in Greenwich. He attended Merchant Taylors' School.-Rugby union career:...
(Blackheath), JI Ward (Richmond
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
), CWL Fernandes
Charles Fernandes
Charles Walker Luis Fernandes was a rugby union footballer of the 1880s who at representative level played for England, and at club level for Leeds, playing in the Forwards, e.g. Front row, Lock, or Back row...
(Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
), Charles Gurdon
Charles Gurdon
Charles Gurdon was an English rower and rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and Richmond. Gurdon represented England fourteen times during the early development of international rugby union, once as captain...
(Richmond
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
), C Phillips (Birkenhead Park), GF Vernon
George Vernon
George Frederick Vernon was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Middlesex County Cricket Club. He also played one Test match for England during the first-ever Ashes tour in 1882-83.Vernon was the son of George Vernon of 32 Montague Square...
(Blackheath), JJ Ravenscroft (Birkenhead Park), George Burton
George Burton (rugby union)
George Burton was a rugby union international who represented England from 1879 to 1881.-Early life:George Burton was born on August 29, 1855 in Wakefield. He attended Winchester College.-Rugby union career:...
(Blackheath), HC Rowley
Hugh Rowley
Hugh Campbell Rowley was a rugby union international who represented England from 1879 to 1882.-Rugby union career:Rowley was originally a member of the Bowdon and Lymm Club, and was selected form this club to represent the county of Cheshire in the first match between Cheshire and Lancashire on...
(Manchester
Manchester Rugby Club
Manchester Rugby Club, formerly known as Manchester Football Club, are one of the oldest rugby union clubs in existence, having been founded in 1860, 11 years before the RFU....
), ET Gurdon
Edward Temple Gurdon
Edward Temple Gurdon, often known as Temple Gurdon, was a rugby union international who represented England from 1878 to 1886. He also captained his country.-Early life:Temple Gurdon was born on January 25, 1854 in Barnham Broom, Norfolk...
(Richmond
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
), WW Hewitt (Queen's House
Queen's House Football Club
Queen's House was a 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures.-History:...
)
Ireland: T Harrison (Queen's College, Cork
University College Cork RFC
University College Cork Rugby Football Club is the rugby union team of University College Cork, based in Cork in the Republic of Ireland. They currently play in Division 1B of the AIB League. Founded in 1872, they originally played as Queen’s College Cork, as UCC was then known. Recent successes...
), W Peirce (Queen's College, Cork
University College Cork RFC
University College Cork Rugby Football Club is the rugby union team of University College Cork, based in Cork in the Republic of Ireland. They currently play in Division 1B of the AIB League. Founded in 1872, they originally played as Queen’s College Cork, as UCC was then known. Recent successes...
), WW Pike (Kingstown), HF Spunner (Tipperary), M Johnston (Dublin University
Dublin University Football Club
Dublin University Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
), AJ Forrest (Dublin University
Dublin University Football Club
Dublin University Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
) capt., DR Browning (Wanderers), JCS Burkitt (Queen's College, Cork
University College Cork RFC
University College Cork Rugby Football Club is the rugby union team of University College Cork, based in Cork in the Republic of Ireland. They currently play in Division 1B of the AIB League. Founded in 1872, they originally played as Queen’s College Cork, as UCC was then known. Recent successes...
), F Kennedy (Wanderers), HB Morell (Dublin University
Dublin University Football Club
Dublin University Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
), WEA Cummins (Queen's College, Cork
University College Cork RFC
University College Cork Rugby Football Club is the rugby union team of University College Cork, based in Cork in the Republic of Ireland. They currently play in Division 1B of the AIB League. Founded in 1872, they originally played as Queen’s College Cork, as UCC was then known. Recent successes...
), WA Wallis (Dublin University
Dublin University Football Club
Dublin University Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
), AR McMullen (Queen's College, Cork
University College Cork RFC
University College Cork Rugby Football Club is the rugby union team of University College Cork, based in Cork in the Republic of Ireland. They currently play in Division 1B of the AIB League. Founded in 1872, they originally played as Queen’s College Cork, as UCC was then known. Recent successes...
), G Scriven (Dublin University
Dublin University Football Club
Dublin University Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
), H Purdon (NIFC
North of Ireland FC
North of Ireland Football Club is a former Irish rugby union club that was based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was the first rugby club formed in what is now Northern Ireland and only two other clubs - Dublin University and Wanderers - were formed earlier anywhere else in all Ireland . It was...
)
England continued their experiment, which it began in 1880, of holding international matches in the North of England, after disappointing crowds in the South. England brought in five new caps, four into the pack, but it was their experienced backs of Hornby and Stokes
Lennard Stokes
Dr. Lennard Stokes was a rugby union international who represented England from 1875 to 1881. He also captained his country on five occasions, notably in the first ever match against Wales...
that continued to cause their opponents the most problems. The game itself was one sided, with Henry Taylor scoring England's very first hat-trick of tries.
----
Ireland vs. Scotland
Ireland: RE McLean(Dublin UniversityDublin University Football Club
Dublin University Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
), JC Bagot Lansdowne, WW Pike (Kingstown), HF Spunner (Tipperary), M Johnston (Dublin University
Dublin University Football Club
Dublin University Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
), AJ Forrest (Dublin University
Dublin University Football Club
Dublin University Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
) capt., DR Browning (Wanderers), JW Taylor (NIFC
North of Ireland FC
North of Ireland Football Club is a former Irish rugby union club that was based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was the first rugby club formed in what is now Northern Ireland and only two other clubs - Dublin University and Wanderers - were formed earlier anywhere else in all Ireland . It was...
), J Johnston (Belfast Acads.), HB Morell (Dublin University
Dublin University Football Club
Dublin University Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
), JA McDonald (Methodist College, Belfast), WA Wallis (Dublin University
Dublin University Football Club
Dublin University Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
), AR McMullen (Queen's College, Cork
University College Cork RFC
University College Cork Rugby Football Club is the rugby union team of University College Cork, based in Cork in the Republic of Ireland. They currently play in Division 1B of the AIB League. Founded in 1872, they originally played as Queen’s College Cork, as UCC was then known. Recent successes...
), RW Hughes (NIFC
North of Ireland FC
North of Ireland Football Club is a former Irish rugby union club that was based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was the first rugby club formed in what is now Northern Ireland and only two other clubs - Dublin University and Wanderers - were formed earlier anywhere else in all Ireland . It was...
), H Purdon (NIFC
North of Ireland FC
North of Ireland Football Club is a former Irish rugby union club that was based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was the first rugby club formed in what is now Northern Ireland and only two other clubs - Dublin University and Wanderers - were formed earlier anywhere else in all Ireland . It was...
)
Scotland: TA Begbie (Edinburgh Wanderers}, Bill Maclagan
Bill Maclagan
William Edward "Bill" Maclagan was a Scottish international rugby union forward who played club rugby for London Scottish F.C....
(Edinburgh Academical), Ninian Finlay
Ninian Finlay
Ninian Jamieson Finlay was a Scottish international rugby players. He was capped nine times for between 1875-81, and is generally considered to be the youngest player ever to be capped for - he was seventeen years and thirty six days old when he was capped against on 8th March, 1875...
(Edinburgh Academical), RC MacKenzie
Robert MacKenzie (rugby)
Robert Campbell MacKenzie was a Scottish international rugby union player, who played for . He was capped four times between 1877-81, scoring two goals , three tries, and two drop goals.-References:* on scrum.com...
(Edinburgh Academical), PW Smeaton (Edinburgh Academical), James Campbell
James Campbell (rugby union)
James Alexander Campbell was a Canadian-born rugby player who represented at international level...
(Glasgow Academical
Glasgow Academicals RFC
The Glasgow Academical Football Club is one of the oldest rugby football clubs in Scotland. This history is notable for a number of reasons, including the clubs longevity, its early foundation in the timeline of rugby, and the fact that the club produced many internationals...
), D McCowan (West of Scotland), Charles Reid
Charles Reid
Charles Reid, nicknamed Hippo, was a Scottish international rugby players. He was capped twenty times for between 1881-88. Reid vies with Ninian Finlay for the title of the youngest player ever to be capped for - he was seventeen years and thirty six days old when he was capped against on 19...
(Edinburgh Academical), DY Cassels (West of Scotland), JHS Graham (Edinburgh Academical) capt., B Allan (Glasgow Academical
Glasgow Academicals RFC
The Glasgow Academical Football Club is one of the oldest rugby football clubs in Scotland. This history is notable for a number of reasons, including the clubs longevity, its early foundation in the timeline of rugby, and the fact that the club produced many internationals...
), JE Junor (Glasgow Academical
Glasgow Academicals RFC
The Glasgow Academical Football Club is one of the oldest rugby football clubs in Scotland. This history is notable for a number of reasons, including the clubs longevity, its early foundation in the timeline of rugby, and the fact that the club produced many internationals...
), GH Robb (Glasgow University), Archibald Walker
Archibald Walker
Archibald Walker was a Scottish rugby football player.He was capped five times for between 1881–1883. He also played for West of Scotland FC.He was the brother of James Walker who was also capped for Scotland.-References:...
(West of Scotland), JB Brown (Glasgow Academical
Glasgow Academicals RFC
The Glasgow Academical Football Club is one of the oldest rugby football clubs in Scotland. This history is notable for a number of reasons, including the clubs longevity, its early foundation in the timeline of rugby, and the fact that the club produced many internationals...
)
With the Irish Rugby Football Union
Irish Rugby Football Union
The Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where Irish rugby union international matches are played...
founded in 1879, and centres founded in Leinster, Munster and Ulster, a united Irish rugbying community celebrated their first international win with victory over Scotland. The Ireland dropped goal came from John Bagot, in his last appearance for his country. Despite the loss, Scotland showed the way forward by introducing a three-man threequarter line for the first time at an international level; and also brought in Charles Taylor, a teenager from Edinburgh Academy. Taylor was the first schoolboy to play in a forward position in an international match.
----
England vs. Wales
England: TW Fry (Queen's HouseQueen's House Football Club
Queen's House was a 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures.-History:...
), R Hunt (Manchester
Manchester Rugby Club
Manchester Rugby Club, formerly known as Manchester Football Club, are one of the oldest rugby union clubs in existence, having been founded in 1860, 11 years before the RFU....
), L Stokes
Lennard Stokes
Dr. Lennard Stokes was a rugby union international who represented England from 1875 to 1881. He also captained his country on five occasions, notably in the first ever match against Wales...
(Blackheath), capt., HT Twynam
Henry Twynam (rugby union)
Henry Twynam was a rugby union international who represented England from 1879 to 1884.-Rugby union career:Twynam made his international debut on 24 March 1879 at The Oval in the England vs Ireland match. Of the 8 matches he played for his national side he was on the winning side on 7 occasions....
(Richmond
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
), HH Taylor
Henry Taylor (rugby union)
Henry Taylor was a rugby union international who represented England from 1879 to 1882.-Early life:Henry Taylor was born on September 21, 1858 in Greenwich. He attended Merchant Taylors' School.-Rugby union career:...
(Blackheath), Charles Plumpton Wilson
Charles Plumpton Wilson
Charles Plumpton Wilson was an English amateur footballer who played at wing-half. He made two appearances for England in 1884...
(Cambridge University
Cambridge University R.U.F.C.
The Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, or CURUFC, is the rugby union club of Cambridge University, and plays Oxford University in the annual Varsity Match at Twickenham stadium every December. CURUFC players wear light blue and white hooped jerseys with a red lion crest...
), CWL Fernandes
Charles Fernandes
Charles Walker Luis Fernandes was a rugby union footballer of the 1880s who at representative level played for England, and at club level for Leeds, playing in the Forwards, e.g. Front row, Lock, or Back row...
(Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
), Charles Gurdon
Charles Gurdon
Charles Gurdon was an English rower and rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and Richmond. Gurdon represented England fourteen times during the early development of international rugby union, once as captain...
(Richmond
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
), A Budd (Blackheath), Harry Vassall
Harry Vassall
Henry Vassall was an English rugby union player, best known as a centre for Oxford University. Vassall played international rugby for England in the early years of the sport, winning five caps and scoring a hat-trick of tries in the first encounter between England and Wales.While at Oxford...
(Oxford University
Oxford University RFC
The Oxford University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham.-History:...
), H Fowler (Walthamstow), George Burton
George Burton (rugby union)
George Burton was a rugby union international who represented England from 1879 to 1881.-Early life:George Burton was born on August 29, 1855 in Wakefield. He attended Winchester College.-Rugby union career:...
(Blackheath), HC Rowley
Hugh Rowley
Hugh Campbell Rowley was a rugby union international who represented England from 1879 to 1882.-Rugby union career:Rowley was originally a member of the Bowdon and Lymm Club, and was selected form this club to represent the county of Cheshire in the first match between Cheshire and Lancashire on...
(Manchester
Manchester Rugby Club
Manchester Rugby Club, formerly known as Manchester Football Club, are one of the oldest rugby union clubs in existence, having been founded in 1860, 11 years before the RFU....
), ET Gurdon
Edward Temple Gurdon
Edward Temple Gurdon, often known as Temple Gurdon, was a rugby union international who represented England from 1878 to 1886. He also captained his country.-Early life:Temple Gurdon was born on January 25, 1854 in Barnham Broom, Norfolk...
(Richmond
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
), WW Hewitt (Queen's House
Queen's House Football Club
Queen's House was a 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures.-History:...
)
Wales: Charlie Newman
Charlie Newman
Charlie Newman was a Welsh international three-quarter who played club rugby for Newport. He was awarded ten caps for Wales and captained the team on six occasions. An original member of the Newport squad he captained the team in the 1882/83 season.-Personal life:Newman was born Newport in 1857 to...
(Newport), Richard Summers
Richard Summers
Richard Henry Bowlas Summers was a Welsh rugby union fullback who played club rugby for Haverfordwest and international rugby for Wales...
(Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest RFC
Haverfordwest Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from the town of Haverfordwest, West Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets.-Club Badge:...
), James Bevan
James Bevan
James Bevan was a Wales international rugby union three-quarter who played club rugby for Clifton RFC and Newport...
(Cambridge Uni.
Cambridge University R.U.F.C.
The Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, or CURUFC, is the rugby union club of Cambridge University, and plays Oxford University in the annual Varsity Match at Twickenham stadium every December. CURUFC players wear light blue and white hooped jerseys with a red lion crest...
and Newport) capt., Edward Peake
Edward Peake
Edward Peake was an English-born rugby union three-quarter and county cricketer. Educated at Oriel College, Oxford, Peake would win a Blue for cricket before representing Gloucestershire. Peake is most notable for being a member of the first Wales rugby union team that played England in 1881...
(Newport and Chepstow
Chepstow RFC
Chepstow Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from the town of Chepstow, in Monmouthshire, Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons.-History:...
), Leonard Watkins
Leonard Watkins
Leonard Watkins was a Welsh international rugby union half-back who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Football Club and international rugby for Wales. He won just a single game for Wales when he was selected for the first ever Welsh rugby international.- Rugby career :Watkins was born in...
(Llandaff
Llandaff RFC
Llandaff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Llandaff, a district of Cardiff in Wales. They presently play in the Welsh Rugby Union Division Four East and is a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues.....
and Cardiff
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
), Edward John Lewis
Edward John Lewis
Edward John Lewis was a Welsh medical doctor and international rugby union half-back who played club rugby for Llandovery College and international rugby for Wales...
(Llandovery College
Llandovery College
Llandovery College is an independent school in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was founded and endowed by Thomas Phillips in 1847 to provide a classical and liberal education in which the Welsh language; the study of Welsh literature and history were also to be cultivated.Llandovery...
), Barry Girling
Barry Girling
Barry Edward Girling was an English-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales. He won a single cap for Wales, in the country's first international match.-Rugby career:...
(Cardiff
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
), Aneurin Rees (Llandovery College
Llandovery College
Llandovery College is an independent school in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was founded and endowed by Thomas Phillips in 1847 to provide a classical and liberal education in which the Welsh language; the study of Welsh literature and history were also to be cultivated.Llandovery...
), Frank Purdon
Frank Purdon
Frank Thomas Purdon was an Irish-born rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport and Swansea. Purdon was capped four times for Wales including the very first Wales international, against England in 1881.-Rugby career:...
(Swansea
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
) B. B. Mann
B. B. Mann
Bathurst Bellers Mann was an Irish-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales...
(Cardiff
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
), Edward Treharne
Edward Treharne
Edward Llewellyn Treharne was a Welsh rugby union forward who played club rugby for Pontypridd and Cardiff, and international rugby for Wales. He is most notable for being a member of the first Wales international team that played England in 1881...
(Cowbridge Grammar School
Cowbridge Grammar School
Cowbridge Grammar School was one of the best-known schools in Wales until its closure in 1974. It was replaced by a comprehensive school.Founded in the 17th century by Sir John Stradling and refounded by Sir Leoline Jenkins, it had close links with Jesus College, Oxford. The school took both...
and Pontypridd
Pontypridd RFC
Pontypridd Rugby Football Club, known as Ponty, are a rugby union team from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, currently playing in the British and Irish Cup, Principality Premiership, and are the current SWALEC Cup champions....
), Godfrey Darbishire
Godfrey Darbishire
Godfrey Darbishire FRGS was an English-born rugby union forward who represented Bangor at club level and played international rugby for Wales, gaining one cap in the country's very first international rugby match....
(Bangor
Bangor RFC
Bangor Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in Bangor, North Wales. Bangor RFC is a founding member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets...
), William David Phillips
William David Phillips
William David Phillips was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Football Club and international rugby for Wales...
(Cardiff
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
), Richard Garnons Williams
Richard Garnons Williams
Richard Davies Garnons Williams was a Welsh international rugby union and forward who played club rugby for Brecon and Newport...
(Brecon
Brecon RFC
Brecon Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club from the town of Brecon, South Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues.The club was one of the eleven founding members of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1881...
and Newport), George Frederick Harding
George Frederick Harding
George Frederick Harding JP was an English-born international rugby union player who played club rugby for Newport and international rugby for Wales. Harding was a member of the very first Wales international team that faced England in 1881.-Rugby career:Harding first played rugby for Newport in...
(Newport)
After the inability of the South Wales Football Union to successfully organise matches with teams from other countries, Richard Mullock
Richard Mullock
Richard Mullock was a Welsh sporting administrator and official, who is most notable for organising the first Welsh rugby union international game and was instrumental in the creation of the Welsh Football Union, which became the Welsh Rugby Union in 1934...
, secretary of Newport Athletics Club, managed to arrange an international with the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
, between a Wales XV and England. With a date set, Mullock now needed an international team. The group of players brought together to form the very first Wales team were selected for their geographic spread, to appease as many regions of the country as possible; and their academic pedigree. Without first playing a trial game together, the team had little cohesion with players not only meeting for the first time, but with many also playing out of their normal position. Even with these problems, the result was still shocking, with the England team scoring 7 goals, 6 tries and a dropped goal to nil, 82-0 by modern scoring. One of the Welsh players was later reported as saying that the team was "...lucky to get nil."
The fallout from the match, saw hostile editorials and letters in the Welsh press. The SWFU distanced themselves from the match, stating that the Welsh team was a private enterprise conducted by Mullock; but when Mullock pushed forward to set up a Welsh union later that year the clubs went with him, preferring his positive style over the SWFU's inaction. The 12 March 1881 saw the creation of the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
, with Mullock installed as secretary.
----
Scotland vs. England
Scotland: TA Begbie (Edinburgh Wanderers), Bill MaclaganBill Maclagan
William Edward "Bill" Maclagan was a Scottish international rugby union forward who played club rugby for London Scottish F.C....
(Edinburgh Academical), Ninian Finlay
Ninian Finlay
Ninian Jamieson Finlay was a Scottish international rugby players. He was capped nine times for between 1875-81, and is generally considered to be the youngest player ever to be capped for - he was seventeen years and thirty six days old when he was capped against on 8th March, 1875...
(Edinburgh Academical), RC MacKenzie
Robert MacKenzie (rugby)
Robert Campbell MacKenzie was a Scottish international rugby union player, who played for . He was capped four times between 1877-81, scoring two goals , three tries, and two drop goals.-References:* on scrum.com...
(Glasgow Academical
Glasgow Academicals RFC
The Glasgow Academical Football Club is one of the oldest rugby football clubs in Scotland. This history is notable for a number of reasons, including the clubs longevity, its early foundation in the timeline of rugby, and the fact that the club produced many internationals...
), Andrew Ramsay Don-Wauchope
Andrew Ramsay Don-Wauchope
Andrew Ramsay "Bunny" Don-Wauchope was a Scottish international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge and Fettesian-Lorettonian. Don Wauchope played an important role within the early growth of Scottish rugby and after retiring from international rugby he became a referee and was...
(Cambridge University
Cambridge University R.U.F.C.
The Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, or CURUFC, is the rugby union club of Cambridge University, and plays Oxford University in the annual Varsity Match at Twickenham stadium every December. CURUFC players wear light blue and white hooped jerseys with a red lion crest...
), James Campbell
James Campbell (rugby union)
James Alexander Campbell was a Canadian-born rugby player who represented at international level...
(Glasgow Academical
Glasgow Academicals RFC
The Glasgow Academical Football Club is one of the oldest rugby football clubs in Scotland. This history is notable for a number of reasons, including the clubs longevity, its early foundation in the timeline of rugby, and the fact that the club produced many internationals...
), Robert Ainslie (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), Charles Reid
Charles Reid
Charles Reid, nicknamed Hippo, was a Scottish international rugby players. He was capped twenty times for between 1881-88. Reid vies with Ninian Finlay for the title of the youngest player ever to be capped for - he was seventeen years and thirty six days old when he was capped against on 19...
(Edinburgh Academy), JW Fraiser (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), JHS Graham (Edinburgh Academical) capt., D McCowan (West of Scotland), Robert Maitland
Robert Maitland
Robert Maitland was a Scottish rugby football player.He was capped five times for between 1881-85. He also played for Edinburgh Institute FP/Edinburgh Institution FP.He was the brother of Gardyne Maitland who was also capped for Scotland.-References:...
(Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), Thomas Ainslie
Thomas Ainslie
Thomas Ainslie was a Scottish rugby football player.He was capped eleven times for between 1881-85. He also played for Edinburgh Institute FP/Edinburgh Institution FP.He was the brother of Robert Ainslie who was also capped for Scotland.-References:...
(Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), WA Peterkin, JB Brown (Glasgow Academical
Glasgow Academicals RFC
The Glasgow Academical Football Club is one of the oldest rugby football clubs in Scotland. This history is notable for a number of reasons, including the clubs longevity, its early foundation in the timeline of rugby, and the fact that the club produced many internationals...
)
England: A. N. Hornby
A. N. Hornby
Albert Neilson Hornby, commonly designated A. N. Hornby, nicknamed Monkey Hornby was one of the best known sportsmen in England during the nineteenth century excelling in both rugby and cricket...
(Manchester
Manchester Rugby Club
Manchester Rugby Club, formerly known as Manchester Football Club, are one of the oldest rugby union clubs in existence, having been founded in 1860, 11 years before the RFU....
), R Hunt (Manchester
Manchester Rugby Club
Manchester Rugby Club, formerly known as Manchester Football Club, are one of the oldest rugby union clubs in existence, having been founded in 1860, 11 years before the RFU....
), L Stokes
Lennard Stokes
Dr. Lennard Stokes was a rugby union international who represented England from 1875 to 1881. He also captained his country on five occasions, notably in the first ever match against Wales...
(Blackheath) capt., HC Rowley
Hugh Rowley
Hugh Campbell Rowley was a rugby union international who represented England from 1879 to 1882.-Rugby union career:Rowley was originally a member of the Bowdon and Lymm Club, and was selected form this club to represent the county of Cheshire in the first match between Cheshire and Lancashire on...
(Manchester
Manchester Rugby Club
Manchester Rugby Club, formerly known as Manchester Football Club, are one of the oldest rugby union clubs in existence, having been founded in 1860, 11 years before the RFU....
), FT Wright (Manchester
Manchester Rugby Club
Manchester Rugby Club, formerly known as Manchester Football Club, are one of the oldest rugby union clubs in existence, having been founded in 1860, 11 years before the RFU....
)/(Edinburgh Academy), Charles Coates
Charles Coates
The Reverend Charles Hutton Coates was a clergyman who also played international rugby union for England. An all round sportsman, he competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London for Great Britain in archery....
(Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
), CWL Fernandes
Charles Fernandes
Charles Walker Luis Fernandes was a rugby union footballer of the 1880s who at representative level played for England, and at club level for Leeds, playing in the Forwards, e.g. Front row, Lock, or Back row...
(Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
), Charles Gurdon
Charles Gurdon
Charles Gurdon was an English rower and rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and Richmond. Gurdon represented England fourteen times during the early development of international rugby union, once as captain...
(Richmond
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
), A Budd (Blackheath), Harry Vassall
Harry Vassall
Henry Vassall was an English rugby union player, best known as a centre for Oxford University. Vassall played international rugby for England in the early years of the sport, winning five caps and scoring a hat-trick of tries in the first encounter between England and Wales.While at Oxford...
(Oxford University
Oxford University RFC
The Oxford University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham.-History:...
), H Fowler (Walthamstow), George Burton
George Burton (rugby union)
George Burton was a rugby union international who represented England from 1879 to 1881.-Early life:George Burton was born on August 29, 1855 in Wakefield. He attended Winchester College.-Rugby union career:...
(Blackheath), WW Hewitt (Queen's House
Queen's House Football Club
Queen's House was a 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures.-History:...
), ET Gurdon
Edward Temple Gurdon
Edward Temple Gurdon, often known as Temple Gurdon, was a rugby union international who represented England from 1878 to 1886. He also captained his country.-Early life:Temple Gurdon was born on January 25, 1854 in Barnham Broom, Norfolk...
(Richmond
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
), C Phillips (Birkenhead Park)
The third contest for the Calcutta Cup ended in a draw with a goal and a try scored by both sides. Edinburgh Academy had the distinction of supplying a player on both sides during the game, with Charles Reid representing Scotland, and Frank Wright being drafted into the England squad when the team turned up a player short, when one of their players missed the train. The match was also notable for being the last international game for Lennard Stokes
Lennard Stokes
Dr. Lennard Stokes was a rugby union international who represented England from 1875 to 1881. He also captained his country on five occasions, notably in the first ever match against Wales...
, who retired from rugby to concentrate on his medical career.
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