The Calcutta Cup, the oldest trophy in international rugby, came back to England at Allianz Stadium in 2025, won by a single point after four years in Scottish hands.
England beat Scotland to win back the Calcutta Cup at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on Saturday 22 February 2025, in round three of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations.
Members of the Calcutta Football Club in British India melted down 270 silver rupees in 1878 to cast a cup topped with an elephant. The first match for it, at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh in 1879, ended in a draw.
The championship followed in 1883, the first international rugby competition of any kind. The cup remains the oldest trophy in the international game, and it keeps a match alive even when neither side can win the title.
Scotland had held the cup through the four previous meetings, and England had not won it since 2020. Ben White scored for them after three minutes, and Tommy Freeman replied with his third try in three games. A second Scottish try left the visitors 10-7 up at half-time.
Marcus Smith kicked England level and then ahead, and a long-range penalty from Fin Smith stretched the lead to six.
Duhan van der Merwe scored with just over a minute left, but the conversion drifted past the posts. England won 16-15.