February 28, 1996. Copyright, 1996, Graphic News. All rights reserved

THE CALCUTTA CUP 
By Julie Mullins

LONDON, February 28, Graphic News- This Saturday (March 2), Scotland and England do battle for the Calcutta Cup, one of the oldest fixtures in the rugby calendar. Success for Scotland will give them their first Five Nations championship since 1990 Ð and the Grand Slam to boot. Only the old enemy stands in their way, but as England have beaten Scotland in each of the last five years, much is at stake.

The Calcutta Cup dates from 1878. The Calcutta Rugby Football Club was forced to close that year, due to lack of good opposition, members being enticed away by the rapid growth in popularity of rival sporting attractions such as lawn tennis and polo, and the dispersal of regimental members to duties elsewhere in India.  

A decision had to be made with regard to money remaining in the clubÕs bank account. Some members opted to splash out on a glorious ÔbeanoÕ in the form of a gymkhana, ball or dinner, but the club captain, G A James Rothney, suggested that a trophy would provide a more permanent memorial. Accordingly he wrote to the Secretary of the Rugby Football Union in England to offer him such a trophy, explaining that the sum of money at his disposal was about £60 Sterling at the Ôpresent rate of exchangeÕ.

RothneyÕs offer was eagerly accepted and a cup was duly fashioned from the last silver rupees withdrawn from the bank when the Calcutta Club closed its account. Crafted in the finest Indian chased workmanship, it has three snake handles and an elephant on top of the lid. It stands on a stout, wooden base around which is recorded the date of each match with the names of the winning country and both captains. The first Calcutta Cup match, played in 1879, was a draw. Since then, England has won the tie 53 times to ScotlandÕs 36, with 13 draws. The Scots, no doubt, are pinning their hopes on SaturdayÕs game to redress the balance a little.


Source: Rugby Football Union