The 1884 Home Nations Championship was the second series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 5 January and 12 April 1884. It was contested by

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 ...

. England won the championship for the second consecutive season and in beating the other three nations won the

Triple Crown Triple Crown may refer to: Sports Horse racing * Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing * Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States) ** Triple Crown Trophy ** Triple Crown Productions * Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing * Tri ...

for the second time. This Championship was most notable for a dispute arising from the game between England and Scotland, when the winning English try was disputed by the Scottish. The teams disagreed with the interpretation of a knock-on law from which England's Richard Kingsley scored and Scotland were told to accept the decision, and their request for adjudication was denied by England. The bitter feelings caused by this situation resulted in the creation of the

International Rugby Board World Rugby is the world governing body for the sport of rugby union. World Rugby organises the Rugby World Cup every four years, the sport's most recognised and most profitable competition. It also organises a number of other international ru ...

in 1886, to create an accepted body of rules that all members would agree to.

Table

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.

Matches

England v Wales

England: HB Tristram (

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 ...

), CG Wade (Oxford University), CE Chapman (

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' ...

), WN Bolton ( Blackheath), A Rotherham (Oxford University), HT Twynam ( Richmond), JT Hunt (

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 ...

), CS Wooldridge (Blackheath), CJB Marriott (

), Herbert Fuller (Cambridge University), EL Strong (

), WM Tatham (Oxford University), RSF Henderson (Blackheath),

Charles Gurdon Charles Gurdon (3 December 1855 – 26 June 1931) was an English barrister, judge, rower and rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and Richmond. Gurdon represented England fourteen times during the early developmen ...

( Richmond), ET Gurdon (Richmond) capt. Wales: Charles Lewis (

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 ...

), Charles Peter Allen (

), William Norton (

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 ...

), Charles Taylor ( Ruabon), Charlie Newman ( Newport) capt., William Gwynn ( Swansea), William David Phillips (

), John Sidney Smith (Cardiff), Joe Simpson (Cardiff)

Tom Clapp Tom Clapp (25 October 1858 – 15 October 1933) was an English-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport and Nantyglo RFC. He won 14 caps for Wales and captained the team on three occasions. Clapp was the first ...

( Newport), Bob Gould (Newport), Horace Lyne (Newport), Frederick Margrave (

Llanelli Llanelli (" St Elli's Parish"; ) is a market town and the largest community in Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed, Wales. It is located on the Loughor estuary north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarth ...

), Fred Andrews (Swansea), George Morris (Swansea) This game was the first rugby union international game to be played in Yorkshire and the third game between the two countries. Although Wales lost the game by two tries, the result was a vast improvement on their prior two meetings, with Wales scoring their first try against England. The try came from English-born Charles Peter Allen, and was converted by Charles Lewis who was also the vice-president of the Welsh Rugby Union. The English play was dominated by

Wade Wade, WADE, or Wades may refer to: Places in the United States * Wade, California, a former settlement * Wade, Maine, a town * Wade, Mississippi, a census-designated place * Wade, North Carolina, a town * Wade, Ohio, an unincorporated communi ...

and

Bolton Bolton (, locally ) is a large town in Greater Manchester in North West England, formerly a part of Lancashire. A former mill town, Bolton has been a production centre for textiles since Flemish weavers settled in the area in the 14th ...

, continuing their strong play from the previous Championship; Wade scored a try while

Rotherham Rotherham () is a large minster and market town in South Yorkshire, England. The town takes its name from the River Rother which then merges with the River Don. The River Don then flows through the town centre. It is the main settlement of ...

's score was set up after a 75-yard run from Bolton. ----

Wales v Scotland

Wales: Charles Lewis (

), Charles Peter Allen (

), William Norton (

), Charles Taylor ( Ruabon), Charlie Newman ( Newport) capt., William Gwynn ( Swansea), William David Phillips (

), Thomas Baker Jones ( Newport), Joe Simpson (

)

( Newport), Bob Gould ( Newport), Horace Lyne ( Newport), Frederick Margrave (

), Fred Andrews ( Swansea), George Morris ( Swansea) Scotland: JP Veitch (Royal HSFP), Bill Maclagan ( London Scottish) capt., DJ Macfarlan ( London Scottish), George Campbell Lindsay ( Fettesian-Lorettonians), Andrew Ramsay Don-Wauchope ( Fettesian-Lorettonians), AGG Asher (

), T Ainslie (Edinburgh Inst FP), JB Brown ( Glasgow Acads),

John Jamieson John Jamieson (3 March 1759 – 12 July 1838) was a Scottish minister of religion, lexicographer, philologist and antiquary. His most important work is the ''Dictionary of the Scottish Language''. Life He was born in Glasgow in March 1759 the ...

( West of Scotland), R Maitland (Edinburgh Inst FP), 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 ...

), C Reid ( Edinburgh Acads), D. Somerville (Edinburgh Inst FP), J Tod (

Watsonians Watsonian Football Club is a rugby union club based in Edinburgh and part of the Scottish Rugby Union. The club is connected with George Watson's College as a club for former pupils, and changed its policy in the 1980s to be a fully open club, ...

), WA Walls ( Glasgow Acads) The second meeting between the two teams resulted in another Scottish win. Both Scottish scores in this game were disputed by Wales, but this was a common occurrence. Welsh player William Gwynn took the ball over the line, but instead of touching down for a try he looked for support and was tackled. All three officials at the game were officials from three different rugby unions; the referee was James MacLaren, President of the

RFU The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body for rugby union in England. It was founded in 1871, and was the sport's international governing body prior to the formation of what is now known as World Rugby (WR) in 1886. It pro ...

and the umpires were

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 the WRU and JA Gardener, secretary of the SRU.Godwin (1984), pg 6. ----

Ireland v England

Ireland: JWR Morrow (

Queen's College, Belfast , mottoeng = For so much, what shall we give back? , top_free_label = , top_free = , top_free_label1 = , top_free1 = , top_free_label2 = , top_free2 = , established = , closed = , type = Public research university , parent = ...

), RE McLean ( NIFC), RH Scovell (

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 ...

), DJ Ross (Belfast Albion), M Johnston (Dublin University), WW Higgins ( NIFC), SAM Bruce ( NIFC), FH Levis ( Wanderers), HM Brabazon (Dublin University), DF Moore (Wanderers), JBW Buchanan (Dublin University), JA McDonald (Methodist College, Belfast) capt., RW Hughes ( NIFC), WG Rutherford (Tipperary), OS Stokes (Cork Bankers) England: CH Sample (

), Herbert Fallas (

Wakefield Trinity Wakefield Trinity is a professional rugby league club in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, that plays in the Super League. One of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895, between 1999 and 2016 the ...

), H Wigglesworth ( Thornes), WN Bolton ( Blackheath), JH Payne ( Broughton), HT Twynam ( Richmond), GT Thomson ( Halifax), CS Wooldridge ( Blackheath), CJB Marriott (

), A Teggin ( Broughton), EL Strong (

), WM Tatham (

), H Bell ( New Brighton), A Wood ( Halifax), ET Gurdon ( Richmond) capt. ----

Scotland v Ireland

Scotland: JP Veitch (Royal HSFP), Bill Maclagan ( London Scottish) capt., DJ Macfarlan ( London Scottish), ET Roland (Edinburgh Wanderers), Andrew Ramsay Don-Wauchope ( Fettesian-Lorettonians), AGG Asher (

), Thomas Ainslie (Edinburgh Inst FP), JB Brown ( Glasgow Acads),

( West of Scotland), D McCowan ( West of Scotland), William Peterkin (

), Charles Reid ( Edinburgh Acads), CW Berry ( Fettesian-Lorettonians), J Tod (

), WA Walls ( Glasgow Acads) Ireland: JM O'Sullivan (Limerick), RE McLean ( NIFC), GH Wheeler (

), LM MacIntosh (

), M Johnston (Dublin University), WW Higgins ( NIFC), W Kelly ( Wanderers), THM Hobbs (Dublin University), A Gordon (Dublin University), JF Maguire (Cork), JBW Buchanan (Dublin University), JA McDonald (Methodist College, Belfast) capt., RW Hughes (NIFC), WG Rutherford (

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) ...

), J Johnston ( NIFC) ----

England v Scotland

England: HB Tristram (

), CG Wade (

Arthur Evanson Arthur McDonnell Evanson (15 September 1859 – 31 December 1934) was a Welsh born rugby union player who won four caps between 1882 and 1884 for the England national rugby union team. Life Evanson was born in Llansoy, Monmouthshire, Wales. He ...

( Richmond), WN Bolton ( Blackheath), A Rotherham (

), HT Twynam ( Richmond), GT Thomson ( Halifax), CS Wooldridge ( Blackheath), CJB Marriott (

), RS Kindersley (

), EL Strong (

), WM Tatham (

), RSF Henderson ( Blackheath),

( Richmond), ET Gurdon ( Richmond) (capt.) Scotland: JP Veitch (Royal HSFP), Bill Maclagan ( London Scottish) capt., DJ Macfarlan ( London Scottish), ET Roland (Edinburgh Wanderers), Andrew Ramsay Don-Wauchope ( Fettesian-Lorettonians), AGG Asher (

), T Ainslie (Edinburgh Inst FP), JB Brown ( Glasgow Acads),

( West of Scotland), D McCowan ( West of Scotland), William Peterkin (

), C Reid ( Edinburgh Acads), CW Berry ( Fettesian-Lorettonians), J Tod (

), WA Walls ( Glasgow Acads) ----

Wales v Ireland

Wales: Tom Barlow (

), Frank Hancock (

), William Norton (

), Charles Taylor (Ruabon),

William Stadden William James Wood "Buller" Stadden (1861 –30 December 1906) was a Welsh international rugby union half back who played club rugby for Canton, Cardiff and Dewsbury. Stadden won eight caps for Wales over a period of seven years and is mos ...

(

), William Gwynn ( Swansea), William David Phillips (

), John Sidney Smith (

), Joe Simpson (

) capt.,

( Newport), Bob Gould ( Newport), Horace Lyne ( Newport),

Buckley Roderick William Buckley Roderick (17 January 1862 – 1 February 1908) was a Welsh solicitor, international rugby union forward and later a Vice-Consular for Spain. Roderick played club rugby for Llanelli Rugby Football Club and international rugby for ...

(

), Samuel Goldsworthy ( Swansea), John Hinton (

) Ireland: JWR Morrow (Queen's College, Belfast), Charles Jordan ( Newport), J Pedlaw (Bessbrook), Henry Spunner ( Wanderers), AJ Hamilton (

), HG Cook (

), DF Moore ( Wanderers) capt., FW Moore ( Wanderers), JM Kennedy ( Wanderers), WS Collis ( Wanderers), J Fitzgerald ( Wanderers), W Hallaran, Lambert Moyers ( Dublin Uni.), WE Johnston ( Dublin Uni.), Harry McDaniel ( Newport) When Ireland arrived in Wales for the 1884 encounter they were two players short. To allow the game to take place, uncapped substitute Welsh players were provided. Charles Jordan and Harry McDaniel, both of Newport RFC, took to the field as Ireland players, though contemporary reports continued to list the original chosen Irish players: Ernest Greene and Robert Gibson Warren.

Bibliography

* *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Home Nations

1884 Events January–March * January 4 – The Fabian Society is founded in London. * January 5 – Gilbert and Sullivan's '' Princess Ida'' premières at the Savoy Theatre, London. * January 18 – Dr. William Price at ...

1883–84 in British rugby union 1883–84 in English rugby union

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 ...

1883–84 in Scottish rugby union