1881–82 Home Nations rugby union matches


The 1881–82 Home Nations rugby union matches were a series of international rugby football matches played between the England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales national rugby union teams. This was the last season before the introduction of the Home Nations Championship.
The only recognised competition held between the countries was the annual Calcutta Cup match, contested between England and Scotland. It was the fourth challenge for the trophy, and the first time Scotland won it, beating England by two tries to nil.

Results

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.

The matches

Ireland vs. Wales

Ireland: RE McLean, JR Atkinson, Thomas St. George McCarthy, WW Fletcher, EH Greene, GC Bent, AJ Forrest capt., JM Kennedy, F Kennedy, HB Morell, EA McCarthey, WA Wallis, AJ Downing, FS Heuston, RG Thompson
Wales: Charles Lewis capt., Samuel Clark, William Norton, Bill Evans, Charlie Newman, George Frederick Harding, James Bridie, Hugh Vincent, Frank Purdon Tom Clapp, Bob Gould, Thomas Baker Jones, William David Phillips, Tom Williams, George Morris
This match was the first ever meeting between the two nations rugby union teams; and resulted in the first ever Welsh victory over international opposition. Ten of the Irish teams were new caps, which reflected the makeshift nature of the Irish team after ten of the original squad withdrew before the match. Kennedy of Ireland withdrew with an injury after half an hour of play and Atkinson took a serious injury to his nose. The match itself was frequently disrupted after disputes broke out from both sides, with Wales finishing victorious.
The sports correspondent from The Irish Times wrote a damning article in his match coverage, referring to the "dormant apathy" of the Irish team.
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Ireland vs. England

Ireland: RB Walkington, RE McLean, EJ Wolfe, WW Pike, M Johnston, GC Bent, AJ Forrest, JW Taylor capt., R Nelson, HB Morell, WEA Cummins, JA McDonald, RW Hughes, TR Johnson-Smyth, OS Stokes
England: A. N. Hornby, WN Bolton, E Beswick, R Hunt, HT Twynam, HC Rowley, JI Ward, Charles Gurdon capt., BB Middleton, Harry Vassall, Herbert Fuller, JT Hunt, GT Thomson, A Spurling, WW Hewitt

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Scotland vs. Ireland

Scotland: T Anderson, Bill Maclagan, F Hunter, WS Brown, AGG Asher, G Macleod, R Ainslie, C Reid, DY Cassels capt., D. Somerville, D McCowan, R Maitland, T Ainslie, AFC Gore, JB Brown
Ireland: RB Walkington, RE McLean, JR Atkinson, RW Morrow, WW Fletcher, J Pedlow, AC O'Sulivan, JW Taylor capt., R Nelson, JBW Buchanan, W Finlay, JA McDonald, RW Hughes, G Scriven, J Johnston
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England vs. Scotland

England: A. N. Hornby capt., WN Bolton, E Beswick, JH Payne, HH Taylor, Charles Coates, WM Tatham, Charles Gurdon, PA Newton, Harry Vassall, Herbert Fuller, JT Hunt, GT Thomson, ET Gurdon, HC Rowley
Scotland: JP Veitch, Bill Maclagan, A Philip, WS Brown, Andrew Ramsay Don-Wauchope, Archibald Walker, Robert Ainslie, Charles Reid, DY Cassels capt., WA Walls, D McCowan, Robert Maitland, Thomas Ainslie, JG Walker, JB Brown
At the fourth attempt, Scotland won the Calcutta Cup for the first time.
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Wales vs. North of England

Although not a full international, the match between Wales and the North of England was important for the establishment of the Home Nations Championship the following season. In 1881 Wales had suffered such a crushing defeat at the hands of the English that it their readiness for full international participation was brought into question. In 1882 it was therefore decided to put a North of England team against them. The winning margin attained by the North was by just a goal to a try. This good form shown by the Welsh added to their victory over Ireland, gained for them a place in the International fixtures of the future.