On this day 1871 saw the birth of international rugby and ANNIESLAND played a central role

Until about two years ago the (English) RFU claimed to have the oldest international Cap in the world--that was until a book Played in Glasgow was published which showed the authorities at Twickenham that in fact another existed
Glasgow Accies have loaned the artefact to the World Rugby Museum but it will return to the Second City in time for 2014

Due to heightened interest in Rugby in Scotland, pressure mounted on the playing of an International. Following on a meeting on 5th December, representatives of four Scottish Clubs (Edinburgh Academicals, West of Scotland, Glasgow Academicals, and University of St Andrews) , wrote to B.H.Burns, the Secretary of Blackheath, "...For
our own satisfaction, therefore, and with a view to really testing what Scotland can do against an English Team, we, representing the whole footballing interest of Scotland, hereby challenge any team selected from the whole of England, to play us a match, twenty a side Rugby rules. If entered into we can promise England a hearty welcome
and a first rate match The letter of challenge issued on behalf of the Senior Scottish Clubs:

Sir,
There is a pretty general feeling among Scotch football players that the football power of the old country was not properly represented in the late so-called International Football Match. Not that we think the play of the gentlemen who represented Scotland otherwise than very good - for that it was so is amply proved by the stout resistance they offered to their opponents and by the fact that they were beaten by only one goal - but that we consider the Association rules, in accordance with which the late game was played, not such as to bring together the best team Scotland could turn out. Almost all the leading clubs play by the Rugby Code, and have no opportunity of practising the Association game even if willing to do so. We therefore feel that a match played in accordance with any rules other than those in general use in Scotland, as was the case in the last match, is not one that would meet with support generally from her players. For our satisfaction, therefore, and with a view of really testing what Scotland can do against an English team we, as representing the football interests of Scotland, hereby challenge any team selected from the whole of England, to play us a match, twenty-a-side, Rugby rules, either in Edinburgh or Glasgow on any day during the present season that might be found suitable to the English players. Let this count as the return to the match played in London on 19th November, or, if preferred, let it be a separate match. If it be entered into we can promise England a hearty welcome and a first-rate match. Any communications addressed to any one of us will be attended to.

We are, etc.
A. H. Robertson, West of Scotland FC
F. J. Moncrieff, Edinburgh Academical FC
B. Hall Blyth, Merchistonian FC
J. W. Arthur, Glasgow Academical FC
J. H. Oatts, St Salvador FC, St Andrews
During this period Glasgow Accies joined the(English) Rugby Football Union which was formed in 1871 as no governing body existed in Scotland

This resulted in the birth of the international rugby football

Around 4000 spectators at Edinburgh's Raeburn Place watched Scotland beat England by the only goal of the game in the first rugby international. The match resulted from a challenge issued in the sporting publication Bell's Weekly on December 8, 1870 and signed by the captains of five Scottish clubs, inviting any team "selected from the whole of England" to a 20-a-side game to be played under the Rugby rules. Blackheath, the leading English club, accepted the challenge.

This article was originally posted on 27-Mar-2013, 19:10 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 27-Mar-2013, 19:33.