1879–80 Home Nations rugby union matches

The 1879–80 Home Nations rugby union matches were a series of international rugby union friendlies held between the England, Ireland and Scotland national rugby union teams.

The only recognised competition held between the countries was the annual Calcutta Cup match, contested between England and Scotland. It was the second challenge for the Cup.

Results

2 February 1880

Ireland	0 – 1	England

Dublin, Ireland

14 February 1880

Scotland	3 – 0	Ireland

Glasgow, Scotland

28 February 1880

England	2 – 1	Scotland

Manchester, England

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. England

2 February 1880

Ireland	1T – 1G 1T	England
Try: Cuppaidge		Try: Ellis Markendale Con: Stokes

Lansdowne Road, Ireland Referee: GP Nugent (Dublin)

Ireland

RB Walkington (NIFC), AM Whitestone (Dublin University), JC Bagot (Dublin University), WT Heron (NIFC), M Johnston (Dublin University), AJ Forrest (Wanderers), F Kennedy (Wanderers), A Millar (Kingstown), HC Kelly (NIFC) capt., JW Taylor (NIFC), JA McDonald (Wanderers), JL Cuppaidge (Wanderers), RW Hughes (NIFC), G Scriven (Dublin University), HH Purdon (NIFC)

England

TW Fry (Queen's House), AN Hornby (Manchester), L Stokes (Blackheath) capt., R Hunt (Manchester), HT Twynam (Richmond), AH Jackson (Blackheath), S Neame (Old Cheltonians), Charles Gurdon (Richmond), B Kilner (Wakefield Trinity), GF Vernon (Blackheath), E Woodhead (Dublin University), SS Ellis (Queen's House), HC Rowley (Manchester), E Markendale (Manchester Rangers), JW Schofield (Manchester Rangers)

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Scotland vs. Ireland

14 February 1880

Scotland	1G 2DG 1T – nil	Ireland
Try: Ewart (2) Masters Cons: Cross Drop: Finlay (2)

Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow Referee: A Buchanan (Scotland)

Scotland

Bill Maclagan (Edinburgh Academical), Malcolm Cross (Glasgow Academical), Ninian Finlay (Edinburgh Academical), WH Masters (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), WS Brown (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), Robert Ainslie (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), CAR Stewart (West of Scotland), JB Brown (Glasgow Academical), EN Ewart (Glasgow Academical), RW Irvine (Edinburgh Academical) capt., AG Petrie (Royal HSFP), JHS Graham (Edinburgh Academical), D McCowan (West of Scotland), NT Brewis (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), John Guthrie Tait (Edinburgh Academical)

Ireland

RB Walkington (NIFC), T Harrison (Queen's College, Cork), JC Bagot (Dublin University), WT Heron (NIFC), M Johnston (Dublin University), AJ Forrest (Wanderers), AP Cronyn, A Millar (Kingstown), HC Kelly (NIFC) capt., JW Taylor (NIFC), WL Finlay (NIFC), JL Cuppaidge (Wanderers), RW Hughes (NIFC), G Scriven (Dublin University), WA Wallis (Dublin University)

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England vs. Scotland

28 February 1880

England	2G 3T – 1G	Scotland
Try: Burton Fry Gurdon Taylor (2) Con: Stokes (2)		Try: Brown Con: Cross

Whalley Range, Manchester Referee: A. G. Guillemard (England)

England

TW Fry (Queen's House), C. M. Sawyer (Broughton), L Stokes (Blackheath) capt., RT Finch (Cambridge University), HH Taylor (St. George's Hospital), CH Coates (Cambridge University), S Neame (Old Cheltonians), Charles Gurdon (Richmond), C Phillips (Oxford University), GF Vernon (Blackheath), G Harrison (Hull), George Burton (Blackheath), HC Rowley (Manchester), ET Gurdon (Richmond), Roger Walker (Manchester)

Scotland

Bill Maclagan (Edinburgh Academical), Malcolm Cross (Glasgow Academical), Ninian Finlay (Edinburgh Academical), WH Masters (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), WS Brown (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), Robert Ainslie (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), CAR Stewart (West of Scotland), JB Brown (Glasgow Academical), EN Ewart (Glasgow Academical), RW Irvine (Edinburgh Academical) capt., AG Petrie (Royal HSFP), JHS Graham (Edinburgh Academical), D McCowan (West of Scotland), NT Brewis (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), DY Cassels (West of Scotland)

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Bibliography

• Griffiths, John (1987). The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records. London: Phoenix House. ISBN 0-460-07003-7.