Silver service: John Barclay and the Scotland team with the Calcutta Cup (Getty Images) First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the Princess Royal and Scotland coach Gregor Townsend even told some of those at Murrayfield that Sturgeon had drunk Champagne from the Calcutta Cup:It is fair to say, this was a very special moment! Motorists are advised to travel with caution It’s clear that not just the players but all the fans in Scotland enjoyed this particular Calcutta Cup victory.Find out what's inside the August 2020 edition of Rugby World magazine The Calcutta Cup was badly damaged in 1988 due to the antics of drunken players, including Scotland flanker John Jeffrey (a.k.a. Grant Stott reflects on Scotland’s remarkable rugby comeback, from despair to triumph, to retain the Calcutta Cup. Thanks to all the fans the atmosphere was incredible.Former Scotland international Scott Hastings also hailed the special atmosphere at the stadium:The atmosphere coursing through this stadium is electric – what a performer Centre Huw Jones, who scored two tries against England, enjoyed one particular tweet from Scotland fan Graham Love:Public services in Scotland also got involved in the celebrations.
Within the larger, more important tournament, England and Scotland compete for a big silver cup with an elephant on the top named after a city in India, which has now changed its name.It is one of the quirks of international rugby, but it is not random, there is actually a good reason why one of the two captains will be lifting this very trophy this weekend.The Calcutta Cup is not a modern invention as administrators try and grow the game into new territories across the globe.The trophy dates back all the way to 1878, even before the first Home Nations tournament (the precursor to the current Six Nations), and it originates, as you might expect, in Calcutta.Rugby gained popularity in India in the early 1870s with the Calcutta (Rugby) Football Club being established in 1873 by former Rugby School students.However, with the rise of sports such as cricket and polo, interest in rugby waned and Calcutta patrons were further put off by the cancellation of the free bar at the club.In 1878 the Calcutta (Rugby) Football Club disbanded but the members still had 270 silver rupees left in the bank account and wanted to do something with them.The coins were melted down and made into a trophy which was presented to the Rugby Football Union to be used for ‘the best means of doing some lasting good for the cause of Rugby Football.’As England and Scotland were the pre-eminent sides in world rugby at the time, the Calcutta Cup became the prize for the winners of the annual contest between the nations from 1879 onwards.When the Home Nations tournament began in 1883 it seemed that the Calcutta Cup would then go to the winners of the competition, but due to popular demand it remained for the victors of the annual England v Scotland clash.The design of the cup represents where it was created as an Indian elephant sits atop the trophy, with three King cobras acting as the handles.The original trophy still exists but is in a fragile state so sits in the Museum of Rugby in Twickenham, whilst both England and Scotland have replicas which they lift after a victory.Part of the reason the original trophy is damaged is due to England international Dean Richards and Scottish counterpart John Jeffry using it as the ball in a drunken game in Edinburgh back in 1988.More than 1,000,000 more children need free school mealsParents face fines in September if they don't send children back to schoolParents claim compulsory relationship education is 'breach of their rights'How lockdown has transformed the rules of dating (and how you can still find love)Why is the England national Rugby union anthem Swing Low, Sweet Chariot under review and could it be banned?Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tried to seal shock Chelsea transfer in JanuaryDimitar Berbatov names the player Chelsea should sign after wrapping up Kai Havertz transferNapoli chief officially sets price for Man Utd and Liverpool transfer target Kalidou KoulibalyGabriel Magalhaes’ representatives jet into UK as Manchester United weigh up transfer move Comment: Foaled April 22.