On this day 1871: First ever rugby international

ON THIS day in 1871 Scotland defeated England in the first rugby international, played at the Edinburgh Academicals ground.

The first ever rugby union international on March 27th in 1871 . Picture: Jon Savage

The match, played in front of 4,000 spectators, was won by Scotland who scored two tries and a goal to England’s single try.

The game resulted from a challenge issued in the Bells weekly in 1870, whereby the captains of five Scottish teams invited any team selected from the “whole of England” to a game under rugby rules.

Upon accepting the challenge, the English team wore all white with a red rose upon their chests while the Scots wore brown shirts with a thistle.

A painting of the match at Academicals rugby ground. Picture: Jon Savage

Scot Angus Buchanan was the first man to score a try in international rugby.

The English got their revenge by winning the return match at the Kennington Oval, London, in 1872.

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