On this day 1871: First ever rugby international

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

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

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.