3. Damaged in Celebrations – Player’s Banned for Breaking the Trophy
Two players have received on-field match bans for breaking the Calcutta Cup, with both incidents taking place during the post-match celebrations in 1988. England had just beaten Scotland 9-6 at Murrayfield, to retain the trophy in a toughly contested Five Nations fixture. This was England’s 57th time of winning the trophy, yet what followed was a first time occurrence for both the RFU and the SRU.
The Calcutta Cup was damaged by supposed ‘drunken antics’, involving both England and Scotland rugby players. Former England number eight Dean Richards and ex-Scotland flanker John Jeffrey, are said to have played football with the Calcutta Cup along the famous Princes Street in Edinburgh. Due to their actions in breaking the trophy, Jeffrey received a staggering six month ban by the SRU, whilst Richards was let off a lot lighter. The former Leicester Tigers man was only issued a one-match ban by the RFU.
4. The Original Plan for the Calcutta Cup – ‘Rugby’s F.A Cup’
EmbedDespite the Calcutta Cup now being synonymous with the rivalry between Scotland and England, the trophy was first issued to be rugby’s answer to the FA Cup in football. The Calcutta Club’s initial plan was to create the trophy, to be the most sought-after prize in England’s domestic club rugby. The tournament would mimic the knock-out format popularised by the F.A Cup, with unexpected match-ups between teams across the divisions being a real selling point of the competition.
However, the RFU refused the Calcutta Club’s ambitions, and did not give the ‘Calcutta Cup Tournament’ the go ahead. It is said that back in 1879, the Governing body believed that there was plenty of ‘competitiveness’ within the amateur sport of rugby union, and that there was no need for such a tournament to drum up the spirit the game. The RFU then decided to utilise the trophy on the test match stage, and have competed for the famous piece of silverware against Scotland ever since.
5. Calcutta Cup Records – Jonny Wilkinson Leads In the Fixture’s History
The Calcutta Cup’s history books are decorated by some of the greatest players, throughout the age-old heritages of England and Scotland. Iconic England fly half Jonny Wilkinson holds the record for the most points scored in a single Calcutta Cup match, when he racked up a stunning 27 point total in the 2007 Six Nations. Wilkinson’s efforts saw him score a try, slot two conversions, nail five penalties and also a drop goal, as England accrued a strong 42-20 win at Twickenham.
The previous record of 24 points was held by former England fly half Rob Andrew, yet Wilkinson admitted how he was unaware of the accomplishment until after the fixture. Speaking after the match in 2007, Wilkinson said; “Someone said I’d scored a few points and that’s good, but my job in the team is to kick goals.
“To be honest at 7-3 down I would have taken a win at any cost. But fortunately for me the ball went over today and I came through it fine. It has been a great team day. I’m a big believer in what you get out is what you put in and I have prepared well. I prefer to go into games tired but heavily prepared and today was the reward for all the preparation I’ve done.”