1870-71 Home Nations rugby union matches
Encyclopedia
The 1870-71 Home Nations rugby union matches was a single international friendly held between the England
and Scotland
national rugby union
teams. This was the world's very first international rugby union match.
The match resulted from a challenge issued in the sporting weekly Bell's Weekly on 8 December 1870 and signed by the captains of five Scottish clubs, inviting any team "selected from the whole of England" to a 20-a-side game to be played under the Rugby rules. The game was played at Raeburn Place
, Edinburgh, the home ground of Edinburgh Academicals, on 27 March 1871. The English team wore all white with a red rose on their shirts and the Scots brown shirts with a thistle and white cricket flannels. Three international matches played according to Association Football rules had already taken place at the Oval, London, in 1870 and 1871.
The team representing England
was captained by Frederick Stokes of Blackheath, that representing Scotland
was led by Francis Moncrieff; the umpires were Hely Hutchinson Almond
, headmaster of Loretto College in Scotland, and A Ward from England.
The game, played over two halves, each of 50 minutes, was won by Scotland, who scored a goal with a successful conversion kick after grounding the ball over the goal line (permitting them to 'try' to kick a goal). Both sides achieved a further 'try' each, but failed to convert them to goals as the kicks were missed. Angus Buchanan
was the first man to score a try in international rugby.
In a return match at the Kennington Oval, London, in 1872, England were the winners.
, for a dropped goal or for a goal from mark
. 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.
Scotland: WD Brown (Glasgow Academicals
), Thomas Chalmers (Glasgow Academicals
), Alfred Clunies-Ross
(St. Andrew's University
), Thomas Marshall
(Edinburgh Academicals), W Cross
(Merchistonians), John Arthur
(Glasgow Academicals
), Francis Moncreiff
(Edinburgh Academicals) capt., A Buchanan
(Royal HSFP), AG Colville (Merchistonians), D Drew (Glasgow Academicals
), W Forsyth
(Edinburgh University
), James Finlay
(Edinburgh Academicals), RW Irvine
(Edinburgh Academicals), WJC Lyall (Edinburgh Academicals), JAW Mein (Edinburgh Academicals), JLH MacFarlane (Edinburgh University
), Robert Munro
(St. Andrew's University
), G Ritchie (Merchistonians), AH Robertson (West of Scotland), J.S. Thomson
(Glasgow Academicals
/St. Andrew's University
)
England: A. G. Guillemard
(West Kent
), Richard Osborne (Manchester
), Arthur Lyon
(Liverpool
), William MacLaren
(Manchester
), John Edmund Bentley
(Gipsies
), Frank Tobin
(Liverpool
), JF Green
(West Kent
), Reg Birkett
(Clapham Rovers
), BH Burns
(Blackheath), JH Clayton (Liverpool
), Charles Arthur Crompton
(Blackheath), Alfred Davenport
(Ravenscourt Park
), JM Dugdale
(Ravenscourt Park
), AS Gibson
(Manchester
), Alfred St. George Hamersley
(Marlborough Nomads
), John Luscombe
(Gipsies
), Charles Sherrard
(Blackheath), Frederick Stokes
(Blackheath) capt., DP Turner
(Richmond
), H.J.C. Turner
(Manchester
)
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...
and 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...
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 was the world's very first international rugby union match.
The match resulted from a challenge issued in the sporting weekly Bell's Weekly on 8 December 1870 and signed by the captains of five Scottish clubs, inviting any team "selected from the whole of England" to a 20-a-side game to be played under the Rugby rules. The game was played at Raeburn Place
Raeburn Place
Raeburn Place is the main street of Stockbridge, Edinburgh, and the name of the playing fields there.-Rugby:The first international rugby football game was played on the playing fields at Raeburn Place on 27 March 1871 between England and Scotland. It was won by Scotland, though England got revenge...
, Edinburgh, the home ground of Edinburgh Academicals, on 27 March 1871. The English team wore all white with a red rose on their shirts and the Scots brown shirts with a thistle and white cricket flannels. Three international matches played according to Association Football rules had already taken place at the Oval, London, in 1870 and 1871.
The team representing 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...
was captained by Frederick Stokes of Blackheath, that representing 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...
was led by Francis Moncrieff; the umpires were Hely Hutchinson Almond
Hely Hutchinson Almond
Dr Hely Hutchinson Almond was a physician and a politician. He is remembered as a pioneering Scottish educator.-Biography:...
, headmaster of Loretto College in Scotland, and A Ward from England.
The game, played over two halves, each of 50 minutes, was won by Scotland, who scored a goal with a successful conversion kick after grounding the ball over the goal line (permitting them to 'try' to kick a goal). Both sides achieved a further 'try' each, but failed to convert them to goals as the kicks were missed. Angus Buchanan
Angus Buchanan (rugby)
Angus Buchanan was a Scottish international rugby and cricket player. One of the earliest Scottish players, he was capped for in 1871. He also played simultaneously for Royal High School FP, and the Edinburgh University RFC.He played in the first ever side, and scored the first try in...
was the first man to score a try in international rugby.
In a return match at the Kennington Oval, London, in 1872, England were the winners.
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.
Scotland vs. England
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...
), Thomas Chalmers (Glasgow Academicals
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...
), Alfred Clunies-Ross
Alfred Clunies-Ross
Alfred Clunies-Ross was a rugby union international who represented Scotland in the first international rugby match in 1871.-Early life:Alfred was born around 1851 in the Cocos Islands the son of John George Clunies-Ross, second ruler-proprietor of the Cocos Islands, referred to by the press as...
(St. Andrew's University
University of St Andrews Rugby Football Club
The University of St Andrews Rugby Football Club is an affiliated member of the University of St Andrews Athletic Union in Fife, Scotland. It was founded in 1858, making it one of the oldest football clubs in the world. In 2008, the club celebrated its sesquicentennial year, marking its 150th...
), Thomas Marshall
Thomas Roger Marshall
Thomas Roger Marshall was a Scottish international rugby and cricket player. He played at three quarter back.-Rugby career:One of the earliest Scottish players, he was capped four times for between 1871 and 1874. He also played for Edinburgh Academicals...
(Edinburgh Academicals), W Cross
William Cross
William Cross was a Scottish rugby internationalist. He is notable for scoring the first conversion in international rugby in 1871 in the match between and , after Angus Buchanan scored a pushover try, and he also 's second ever try later in the match.-Rugby career:Cross represented Scotland in...
(Merchistonians), John Arthur
John Arthur (rugby union)
-Rugby career:John W. Arthur represented Scotland in 1871 in the first international match. He was capped again on the return fixture the following year...
(Glasgow Academicals
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...
), Francis Moncreiff
Francis Moncreiff
Hon. Francis Jeffrey Moncreiff was a Scottish rugby union player, and 's first captain, making him one of the two first captains in international rugby. He was capped on three occasions between 1871 and 1873 for ....
(Edinburgh Academicals) capt., A Buchanan
Angus Buchanan (rugby)
Angus Buchanan was a Scottish international rugby and cricket player. One of the earliest Scottish players, he was capped for in 1871. He also played simultaneously for Royal High School FP, and the Edinburgh University RFC.He played in the first ever side, and scored the first try in...
(Royal HSFP), AG Colville (Merchistonians), D Drew (Glasgow Academicals
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...
), W Forsyth
William Forsyth (rugby)
William Forsyth was a rugby union international who represented Scotland in the first international rugby match in 1871.-Early life:William Forsyth was born on 23 of March, 1850 in Logie Easter, Rossshire. He was the son of John Forsyth and Ann...
(Edinburgh University
Edinburgh University RFC
Edinburgh University Rugby Football Club is a leading rugby union side based in Edinburgh, Scotland which currently plays its fixtures in the top Scottish National League and the British Universities Premiership. It is one of the eight founder members of the Scottish Rugby Union...
), James Finlay
James Finlay
James F. Finlay was a Scottish rugby union player.He was capped four times for between 1871–75, including the first ever international. He also played for Edinburgh Academicals....
(Edinburgh Academicals), RW Irvine
Bulldog Irvine
Doctor Robert W. Irvine, nicknamed "Bulldog", was a Scottish rugby football player.-Rugby career:He was capped 13 times for between 1871–80, including the first ever rugby international...
(Edinburgh Academicals), WJC Lyall (Edinburgh Academicals), JAW Mein (Edinburgh Academicals), JLH MacFarlane (Edinburgh University
Edinburgh University RFC
Edinburgh University Rugby Football Club is a leading rugby union side based in Edinburgh, Scotland which currently plays its fixtures in the top Scottish National League and the British Universities Premiership. It is one of the eight founder members of the Scottish Rugby Union...
), Robert Munro
Robert Munro (rugby footballer)
Robert Munro was a rugby union international who represented Scotland in the first international rugby match in 1871.-Early life:Robert Munro was born in Dull, Perthshire in 1839, the son of Alexander M. Munro, a schoolmaster, and Margaret Stewart...
(St. Andrew's University
University of St Andrews Rugby Football Club
The University of St Andrews Rugby Football Club is an affiliated member of the University of St Andrews Athletic Union in Fife, Scotland. It was founded in 1858, making it one of the oldest football clubs in the world. In 2008, the club celebrated its sesquicentennial year, marking its 150th...
), G Ritchie (Merchistonians), AH Robertson (West of Scotland), J.S. Thomson
J.S. Thomson
J.S. Thomson was a rugby union international who represented Scotland in the first international rugby match in 1871.-Early life:Little is known of J.S. Thomson's early life. He is recorded as having played for Glasgow Academicals in 1871 and 1872...
(Glasgow Academicals
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...
/St. Andrew's University
University of St Andrews Rugby Football Club
The University of St Andrews Rugby Football Club is an affiliated member of the University of St Andrews Athletic Union in Fife, Scotland. It was founded in 1858, making it one of the oldest football clubs in the world. In 2008, the club celebrated its sesquicentennial year, marking its 150th...
)
A. G. Guillemard
Arthur George Guillemard was an English rugby union fullback who represented for England in the world's very first rugby international in 1871. Guillemard was also a notable sporting administrator and one of the most important early international rugby referees.-Rugby career:Arthur George...
(West Kent
West Kent Football Club
The West Kent Football Club was a short-lived 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:West Kent were...
), Richard Osborne (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....
), Arthur Lyon
Arthur Lyon (rugby union)
Arthur Lyon was a rugby union international who represented England in 1871.-Early life:Arthur Lyon was born on August 4, 1851 in West Derby, Lancashire. He attended Rugby School and then Oxford University.-Rugby union career:...
(Liverpool
Liverpool St Helens F.C.
Liverpool St Helens Football Club are a rugby union team formed from the merger of Liverpool Football Club and St. Helens RUFC. The club currently plays in North 1 West....
), William MacLaren
William MacLaren
William MacLaren was a rugby union international who represented England in the first rugby international in 1871. -Rugby union career:MacLaren made his international debut on March 27th, 1871 at Edinburgh in the first international and was contested by Scotland and England. He was one of four...
(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....
), John Edmund Bentley
John Edmund Bentley
John Edmund Bentley was an English sportsman who played in the first international rugby football match in 1871, representing England as a halfback.-Early life:...
(Gipsies
Gipsies Football Club
The Gipsies Football Club was a short lived 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:The Gipsies...
), Frank Tobin
Frank Tobin
Frank Tobin CBE was a rugby union international who represented England in the first international rugby match in 1871.-Early life:Frank Tobin was born in Liverpool on September 23, 1849. He was educated at Rugby School where he played football using rugby school rules...
(Liverpool
Liverpool St Helens F.C.
Liverpool St Helens Football Club are a rugby union team formed from the merger of Liverpool Football Club and St. Helens RUFC. The club currently plays in North 1 West....
), JF Green
Joseph Fletcher Green
Joseph Green was a rugby union international who represented England in 1871 in the first international match.-Early life:Joseph Green was born on April 28, 1846 in West Ham. He was the second son of Frederick Green of the Blackwall shipbuilding family and his wife Elizabeth of Stepney...
(West Kent
West Kent Football Club
The West Kent Football Club was a short-lived 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:West Kent were...
), Reg Birkett
Reg Birkett
Reginald Halsey Birkett was an English football player who played for Clapham Rovers, as well as the English national side. He also played international rugby union for England in 1871, in the first ever international rugby match. In this match he scored England's first ever try.-Early...
(Clapham Rovers
Clapham Rovers F.C.
Clapham Rovers was from its foundation in 1869 a leading English sports organisation in the two dominant codes of football, association football and rugby union. It was a prominent club in the late 19th century but is now defunct...
), BH Burns
Benjamin Burns
Benjamin Henry Burns was a rugby union footballer who represented England in the first international match against Scotland in 1871.-Sports career:Burns was a member of Blackheath F.C...
(Blackheath), JH Clayton (Liverpool
Liverpool St Helens F.C.
Liverpool St Helens Football Club are a rugby union team formed from the merger of Liverpool Football Club and St. Helens RUFC. The club currently plays in North 1 West....
), Charles Arthur Crompton
Charles Arthur Crompton
Lieutenant Charles Arthur Crompton RE, was a rugby union international who played for England in the first rugby international against Scotland in 1871...
(Blackheath), Alfred Davenport
Alfred Davenport
Alfred Davenport was a rugby union international who represented England in 1871.-Early life:Alfred Davenport was born on May 5, 1849 in Oxford. He attended Rugby School and went up to Oxford University.-Rugby union career:...
(Ravenscourt Park
Ravenscourt Park Football Club
Ravenscourt Park was a short lived 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:Ravenscourt Park was founded...
), JM Dugdale
John Marshall Dugdale
John Marshall Dugdale was a rugby union international who represented England in the first international rugby match in 1871.-Early life:John Marshall Dugdale was born at Irwell Bank, Eccles, on 15 October 1851 and later baptised at Eccles on 1 January 1852. He was the son of John Dugdale, Esq. of...
(Ravenscourt Park
Ravenscourt Park Football Club
Ravenscourt Park was a short lived 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:Ravenscourt Park was founded...
), AS Gibson
Arthur Sumner Gibson
Arthur Gibson was a rugby union international who represented England in 1871 in the first international match.-Early life:Arthur Sumner Gibson was born at Fawley, near Southampton on 14 July 1844 and baptised there on 11 August 1844. He was the son of Rev William Gibson and his second wife...
(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....
), Alfred St. George Hamersley
Alfred St. George Hamersley
Alfred St. George Hamersley was a nineteenth-century solicitor and entrepreneur of great renown, an English MP and perhaps most notably an English rugby union international who played in the first ever international match, went on to captain his country and pioneered the sport in the south of New...
(Marlborough Nomads
Marlborough Nomads
The Marlborough Nomads 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....
), John Luscombe
John Luscombe
Sir John Luscombe was a rugby union international who represented England in the first international match in 1871. He was the brother of another rugby international, Francis Luscombe, and was a highly successful insurance broker, becoming chairman of Lloyds of London and being knighted for his...
(Gipsies
Gipsies Football Club
The Gipsies Football Club was a short lived 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:The Gipsies...
), Charles Sherrard
Charles Sherrard
Charles Sherrard RE was a rugby union international who represented England from 1871 to 1872. Additionally, along with Lieutenant Charles Arthur Crompton RE, he was the first member of the armed forces to represent their national side.-Early life:...
(Blackheath), Frederick Stokes
Frederick Stokes (rugby union)
Frederick Stokes was the first captain of the England national rugby union team, who played for and captained the team in the first three rugby internationals, all between England and Scotland...
(Blackheath) capt., DP Turner
Dawson Turner (rugby union)
For the English banker and botanist see Dawson Turner.Dawson Turner was a rugby union international who represented England from 1871 to 1875.-Early life:...
(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...
), H.J.C. Turner
H.J.C. Turner
H.J.C. Turner was a rugby union international who represented England in 1871 in the first international match.-Early life:...
(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....
)
Match summary
On 28 March 1871, a report was carried on page 5 of The Glasgow Herald with the title FOOTBALL MATCH - England v Scotland
This great football match was played yesterday, on the Academy Cricket Ground, Edinburgh, with a result most gratifying for Scotland. The weather was fine, and there was a very large turnout of spectators. The competitors were dressed in appropriate costume, the English wearing a white jersey, ornamented by a red rose, and the Scotch brown jersey, with a thistle. Although the good wishes of the spectators went with the Scotch team, yet it was considered that their chances were poor. The difference between the two teams was very marked, the English being of a much heavier and stronger build compared to their opponents. The game commenced shortly after three o'clock, the Scotch getting the kick off, and for some time neither side had any advantage. The Scotch, however, succeeded in driving the ball close to the English goal, and, pushing splendidly forward, eventually put it into their opponents' quarters, who, however, prevented any harm accruing by smartly 'touching down’. This result warmed the Englishmen up to their work, and in spite of tremendous opposition they got near the Scotch goal, and kicked the ball past it, but it was cleverly 'touched down' they got no advantage. This finished the first 50 minutes, and the teams changed sides.
For a considerable time after the change the ball was sent from side to side, and the 'backs' got more work to do. By some lucky runs, however, the Scotch got on to the borders of the English land, and tried to force the ball past the goal. The English strenuously opposed this attempt, and for a time the struggle was terrible, ending in the Scotch 'touching down' in their opponents' ground and becoming entitled to a 'try'. This result was received with cheers, which were more heartily renewed when Cross, to whom the 'kick off' was entrusted, made a beautiful goal. This defeat only stirred up the English to fresh efforts, and driving the ball across the field, they managed also to secure a ‘try’, but unfortunately the man who got the 'kick off' did not allow sufficient windage, and the ball fell short. After this the Scotch became more cautious, and playing well together secured after several attempts a second 'try', but good luck did not attend the 'kick off' and the goal was lost. Time being then declared up the game ceased, the Scotch winning by a goal and a 'try'.