The 1880–81 Home Nations rugby union matches were a series of international

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

friendlies held between the

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

and

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

national

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 The Calcutta Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the rugby match between England and Scotland played annually in the Six Nations Championship. Like the match itself (England–Scotland), the Calcutta Cup is the oldest trophy contested be ...

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

try Try or TRY may refer to: Music Albums * ''Try!'', an album by the John Mayer Trio * ''Try'' (Bebo Norman album) (2014) Songs * "Try" (Blue Rodeo song) (1987) * "Try" (Colbie Caillat song) (2014) * "Try" (Nelly Furtado song) (2004) * " Try (Ju ...

, for a dropped goal or for a

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, ...

. 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.

The matches

England vs. Ireland

England: A. N. Hornby (

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

), C. M. Sawyer ( Broughton), L Stokes ( Blackheath) capt., WR Richardson (

), HH Taylor ( Blackheath), JI Ward ( Richmond), CWL Fernandes (

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by popula ...

), Charles Gurdon ( Richmond), C Phillips (

Birkenhead Park Birkenhead Park is a major public park located in the centre of Birkenhead, Merseyside, England. It was designed by Joseph Paxton and opened on 5 April 1847. It is generally acknowledged as the first publicly funded civic park in the world. Th ...

), GF Vernon ( Blackheath), JJ Ravenscroft (

), George Burton ( Blackheath), HC Rowley (

), ET Gurdon ( Richmond), WW Hewitt (

Queen's House Queen's House is a former royal residence built between 1616 and 1635 near Greenwich Palace, a few miles down-river from the City of London and now in the London Borough of Greenwich. It presently forms a central focus of what is now the Old Ro ...

) Ireland: T Harrison (

Queen's College, Cork University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh) is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork. The university was founded in 1845 as one of ...

), W Peirce (

), WW Pike (Kingstown), HF Spunner (Tipperary), M Johnston (

Dublin University The University of Dublin ( ga, Ollscoil Átha Cliath), corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin, is a university located in Dublin, Ireland. It is the degree-awarding body for Trinity College Dubl ...

), AJ Forrest (

) capt., DR Browning ( Wanderers), JCS Burkitt (

), F Kennedy ( Wanderers), HB Morell (

), WEA Cummins (

), WA Wallis (

), AR McMullen (

), G Scriven (

), H Purdon ( NIFC) England continued their experiment, which it began in 1880, of holding international matches in the North of England, after disappointing crowds in the South.Griffiths (1987), 1:5. England brought in five new caps, four into the pack, but it was their experienced backs of Hornby and Stokes 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(

), JC Bagot

Lansdowne Lansdowne or Lansdown may refer to: People * Lansdown Guilding (1797–1831), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines naturalist and engraver *Fenwick Lansdowne (1937–2008), Canadian wildlife artist * George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne (1666–1735) ...

, WW Pike (Kingstown), HF Spunner (Tipperary), M Johnston (

), AJ Forrest (

) capt., DR Browning ( Wanderers), JW Taylor ( NIFC), J Johnston (Belfast Acads.), HB Morell (

), JA McDonald (Methodist College, Belfast), WA Wallis (

), AR McMullen (

), RW Hughes ( NIFC), H Purdon ( NIFC) Scotland: Thomas Begbie (

Edinburgh Wanderers Edinburgh Wanderers is a former rugby union club, founded in 1868. It was latterly a tenant of the Scottish Rugby Union, playing home fixtures at Murrayfield Stadium for nearly 75 years. In 1997 it merged with Murrayfield RFC to form Murrayfie ...

), Bill Maclagan ( Edinburgh Academical),

Ninian Finlay Ninian Jamieson Finlay (31 January 1858 – 7 March 1936Godwin, p147) was a Scottish international rugby player.Bath, p136 He was capped nine times for between 1875–81, and is generally considered to be the youngest player ever to be capped ...

( Edinburgh Academical), RC MacKenzie ( Edinburgh Academical),

Pat Smeaton Pat Smeaton (12 November 1857 - 11 August 1928) was a Scotland international rugby union player. Rugby Union career Amateur career Smeaton played for Edinburgh Academicals. He was club captain for the 1881-82 season. Although favouring play ...

( Edinburgh Academical),

James Campbell James Campbell may refer to: Academics * James Archibald Campbell (1862–1934), founder of Campbell University in North Carolina * James Marshall Campbell (1895–1977), dean of the college of arts and sciences at the Catholic University of Americ ...

( Glasgow Academical), David McCowan ( West of Scotland), Charles Reid ( Edinburgh Academical), David Cassels ( West of Scotland),

Gussie Graham Gussie Graham (16 April 1856 – 17 October 1922) was a Scotland international rugby union player. Rugby union career Amateur career Graham played with Edinburgh Academicals. Provincial career He was capped by Edinburgh District in 1874. He ...

( Edinburgh Academical) capt., Bryce Allan ( Glasgow Academical),

John Junor Sir John Donald Brown Junor (15 January 1919 – 3 May 1997) was a Scottish journalist and editor-in-chief of the ''Sunday Express'' between 1954 and 1986, having previously worked as a columnist there. He then moved to ''The Mail on Sunday''. ...

( Glasgow Academical),

George Robb George Robb (1 June 1926 – 25 December 2011) was a footballer who played outside left for Tottenham Hotspur and England. Robb represented Great Britain at the 1952 Olympic Games. He also had a career as a schoolteacher. He died on Christmas D ...

(

Glasgow University , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

), Archibald Walker ( West of Scotland), John Blair Brown ( Glasgow Academical) With the Irish Rugby Football Union founded in 1879, and centres founded in Leinster, Munster and Ulster, a united Irish rugby-playing community celebrated their first international win with victory over Scotland.Griffiths (1987), 3:4. 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 three-quarter line for the first time at an international level;Griffiths (1987), 2:4. and also brought in Charles Reid, a teenager from Edinburgh Academy. Reid was the first schoolboy to play in a forward position in an international match. ----

England vs. Wales

England: TW Fry (

), R Hunt (

), L Stokes ( Blackheath), capt., HT Twynam ( Richmond), HH Taylor ( Blackheath),

Charles Plumpton Wilson Charles Plumpton Wilson (12 May 1859 – 9 March 1938) was an English amateur footballer who played at wing-half. He made two appearances for England in 1884. He was also capped for the England national rugby union team in 1881, and was one ...

(

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209 and granted a royal charter by Henry III of England, Henry III in 1231, Cambridge is the world' ...

), CWL Fernandes (

), Charles Gurdon ( Richmond), A Budd ( Blackheath), Harry Vassall (

Oxford University Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to th ...

), H Fowler (Walthamstow), George Burton ( Blackheath), HC Rowley (

), ET Gurdon ( Richmond), WW Hewitt (

) Wales: Charlie Newman ( Newport), Richard Summers (

Haverfordwest Haverfordwest (, ; cy, Hwlffordd ) is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales, and the most populous urban area in Pembrokeshire with a population of 14,596 in 2011. It is also a community, being the second most populous community in the county, ...

), James Bevan ( Cambridge Uni. and Newport) capt.,

Edward Peake Edward Peake (29 March 1860 – 3 January 1945) was a Wales international 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 ...

( Newport and

Chepstow Chepstow ( cy, Cas-gwent) is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the tidal River Wye, about above its confluence with the River Severn, and adjoining the wester ...

Leonard Watkins Leonard Watkins (7 December 1859 - 7 February 1901) 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 ...

(

Llandaff Llandaff (; cy, Llandaf ; from 'church' and ''River Taff, Taf'') is a district, Community (Wales), community and coterminous electoral ward in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It was incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of ...

and

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

Edward John Lewis Edward John Lewis (5 December 1859 – 8 June 1925)
Scrum.com was a

(

Llandovery College , image = Llandovery College (geograph 5927072).jpg , image_size = , motto = Gwell Dysg Na Golud( here areno riches better than learning) , established = , closed = , type = Independent day and bo ...

Barry Girling Barry Edward Girling (1857 - 28 October 1905) 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. ...

(

), Aneurin Rees (

), Frank Purdon ( Swansea) B. B. Mann (

Edward Treharne Edward Llewellyn TreharneHarris (1997), pg 22. (22 March 1862 – 29 December 1904)
Scrum.com was a Welsh

(

Cowbridge Grammar School Cowbridge Grammar School was one of the best-known schools in Wales until its closure in 1974. It was replaced by Cowbridge Comprehensive School. Founded in the 17th century by Sir John Stradling and refounded by Sir Leoline Jenkins, it had ...

and

Pontypridd () ( colloquially: Ponty) is a town and a community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. Geography comprises the electoral wards of , Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, 'Rhondda', Rhydyfelin Central/Ilan ( Rhydfelen), Trallwng ( Trallwn) and Treforest (). ...

), Godfrey Darbishire ( Bangor), William David Phillips (

), Richard Garnons Williams (

Brecon Brecon (; cy, Aberhonddu; ), archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town in Powys, mid Wales. In 1841, it had a population of 5,701. The population in 2001 was 7,901, increasing to 8,250 at the 2011 census. Historically it was the coun ...

and Newport),

George Frederick Harding George Frederick Harding JP (1858 – 8 July 1927) 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 t ...

( Newport) After the inability of the South Wales Football Union to successfully organise matches with teams from other countries,

Richard Mullock Richard Mullock (3 May 1851 – 1920) 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 bec ...

, secretary of Newport Athletics Club, managed to arrange an international with the Rugby Football Union, between a Wales XV and England.Smith (1980), pg 37. 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.Smith (1980), pg 41. 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, with Mullock installed as secretary. ----

Scotland vs. England

Scotland: Thomas Begbie (Edinburgh Wanderers), Bill Maclagan ( Edinburgh Academical),

( Edinburgh Academical), RC MacKenzie ( Glasgow Academical), Andrew Ramsay Don-Wauchope (

( Glasgow Academical), Robert Ainslie (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), Charles Reid (Edinburgh Academy), JW Fraiser (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), JHS Graham ( Edinburgh Academical) capt., D McCowan ( West of Scotland), Robert Maitland (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), Thomas Ainslie (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), William Peterkin (

Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted ...

), JB Brown ( Glasgow Academical) England: A. N. Hornby (

), R Hunt (

), L Stokes ( Blackheath) capt., HC Rowley (

), FT Wright (

)/(Edinburgh Academy), Charles Coates (

), CWL Fernandes (

), Charles Gurdon ( Richmond), A Budd ( Blackheath), Harry Vassall (

), H Fowler (Walthamstow), George Burton ( Blackheath), WW Hewitt (

), ET Gurdon ( Richmond), C Phillips (

) 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, who retired from rugby to concentrate on his medical career. ----

Bibliography

* *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Home Nations History of rugby union matches between England and Scotland History of rugby union matches between England and Ireland History of rugby union matches between Ireland and Scotland History of rugby union matches between England and Wales England national rugby union team matches Scotland national rugby union team matches Ireland national rugby union team matches Wales national rugby union team matches 1880–81 in British rugby union 1880–81 in English rugby union 1880–81 in Scottish rugby union