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

rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...

friendlies held between the

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

and

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

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 teams of England and Scotland played annually in the Six Nations Championship. Like the match itself (England–Scotland), the Calcutta Cup is the oldest trophy con ...

match, contested between England and Scotland. It was the third challenge for the Cup.

Scoring system

The matches for this season were decided on goals scored. A goal was awarded for a successful conversion after a try, 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.

Matches

England vs. Ireland

England: A. N. Hornby (

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

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

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

Leeds Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built aro ...

), Charles Gurdon ( Richmond), C Phillips ( Birkenhead Park), GF Vernon ( Blackheath), JJ Ravenscroft ( Birkenhead Park), George Burton ( Blackheath), HC Rowley (

), ET Gurdon ( Richmond), WW Hewitt (

Queen's House Queen's House is a former royal residence in the London borough of Greenwich, which presently serves as a public art gallery. It was built between 1616 and 1635 on the grounds of the now demolished Greenwich Palace, a few miles downriver fro ...

) Ireland: T Harrison ( Queen's College, Cork), W Peirce ( Queen's College, Cork), WW Pike (Kingstown), HF Spunner (Tipperary), M Johnston ( Dublin University), AJ Forrest ( Dublin University) capt., DR Browning ( Wanderers), JCS Burkitt ( Queen's College, Cork), F Kennedy ( Wanderers), HB Morell ( Dublin University), WEA Cummins ( Queen's College, Cork), WA Wallis ( Dublin University), AR McMullen ( Queen's College, Cork), G Scriven ( Dublin University), 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( Dublin University), JC Bagot Lansdowne, WW Pike (Kingstown), HF Spunner (Tipperary), M Johnston ( Dublin University), AJ Forrest ( Dublin University) capt., DR Browning ( Wanderers), JW Taylor ( NIFC), J Johnston (Belfast Acads.), HB Morell ( Dublin University), JA McDonald (Methodist College, Belfast), WA Wallis ( Dublin University), AR McMullen ( Queen's College, Cork), RW Hughes ( NIFC), H Purdon ( NIFC) Scotland: Thomas Begbie ( Edinburgh Wanderers),

Bill Maclagan William Edward Maclagan (5 April 1858 – 10 October 1926) was a Scotland, Scottish international rugby union forward who played club rugby for London Scottish F.C. Maclagan was one of the longest-serving international rugby players during the ...

( Edinburgh Academical), Ninian Finlay ( Edinburgh Academical), RC MacKenzie ( Edinburgh Academical), Pat Smeaton ( Edinburgh Academical), James Campbell ( Glasgow Academical), David McCowan ( West of Scotland), Charles Reid ( Edinburgh Academical), David Cassels ( West of Scotland), Gussie Graham ( Edinburgh Academical) capt., Bryce Allan ( Glasgow Academical), John Junor ( Glasgow Academical),

George Robb George Robb may refer to: * George Robb (footballer) (1926–2011), English footballer * George Robb (rugby union) (1858–1927), Scottish rugby union player * George S. Robb (1887–1972), United States Army officer and Medal of Honor recipient ...

( Glasgow University), Archibald Walker ( West of Scotland), John Blair Brown ( Glasgow Academical) With the

Irish Rugby Football Union The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) () is the body managing rugby union in the island of Ireland (both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where a ...

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 (

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

), CWL Fernandes (

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

Oxford University The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating u ...

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

), ET Gurdon ( Richmond), WW Hewitt (

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

Haverfordwest Haverfordwest ( , ; ) 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 (Wales), community consisting of 12,042 people, making it the secon ...

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

Chepstow Chepstow () 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 western end of the ...

), Leonard Watkins (

Llandaff Llandaff (; ; 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 the Bisho ...

and

Cardiff Cardiff (; ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of in and forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area officially known as the City and County of Ca ...

), Edward John Lewis ( Llandovery College), Barry Girling (

), Aneurin Rees ( Llandovery College), Frank Purdon (

Swansea Swansea ( ; ) is a coastal City status in the United Kingdom, city and the List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, second-largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of ...

) B. B. Mann (

), Edward Treharne (

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, 1st Baronet, Sir John Stradling and refounde ...

and

Pontypridd Pontypridd ( , ), Colloquialism, colloquially referred to as ''Ponty'', is a town and a Community (Wales), community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales, approximately 10 miles north west of Cardiff city centre. Geography Pontypridd comprises the ...

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

), Richard Garnons Williams (

Brecon Brecon (; ; ), 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 county town of Breck ...

and Newport), George Frederick Harding ( 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 The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the Sports governing body, 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 ...

, 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 The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU; ) is the governing body of rugby union in the country of Wales, recognised by the sport's international governing body, World Rugby. The WRU is responsible for the running of rugby in Wales, overseeing 320 member clu ...

, with Mullock installed as secretary. ----

Scotland vs. England

Scotland: Thomas Begbie (Edinburgh Wanderers),

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

), James Campbell ( 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 (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the town council under the authority of a royal charter from King James VI in 1582 and offi ...

), 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 ( 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, 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