1st England Rugby T-Shirt International Match

An Introduction to 1st England Rugby T-Shirt International Match

The 1st England Rugby T-Shirt International Match is an exceptional quality T-Shirt. It is inspired by the teams of England and Scotland who played the first ever game between nations in 1871.

As documented, the first international Rugby Football game advertised the Bell’s Weekly a Sporting publication on the 8th December 1870. The advertisement came in the wake of a challenge issued by the Captains of five Scottish Clubs. The challenge of a 20-a-side game played under the Rugby rules. Against an England Rugby team “selected from the whole of England”.

Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, the home ground of Edinburgh Academicals staged the game on the 27th March 1871. Frederick Stokes of Blackheath captained England and Francis Moncrieff led Scotland.

The first person to score a try in international rugby was Scotland’s Angus Buchanan of Royal High School FP and Edinburgh University RFC. Buchanan’s try followed an attempt by George Ritchie of Merchistons Club in Edinburgh. Ritchie’s try was disallowed by the umpire Hely Hutchinson Almond. From the following scrum Scotland’s Buchanan found his way over the English try-line.

Buchanan was also Scotland’s youngest player and represented his country at both Rugby and Cricket. He was born in January 1847 which made his twenty four years and two months old.

Buchanan scores the 1st International Try and gets a mention in Harry Potter Book

William Cross converted the try. This was important as the rules were very different compared to current day rules. Tries could not count unless the conversion made which created the score. The English team disputed the try but the umpire awarded it.

The Umpire Dr Hely Hutchinson Almond made a questionable justification of his decision:

“Let me make a confession: I do not know whether the decision which gave Scotland the try from which the winning goal was kicked was correct in fact. When an umpire is in doubt, I think he is justified in deciding against the side which makes the most noise. They are probably in the wrong.”

According to one of the English players:

“After a maul, just outside the English goal-line, the umpires ordered the ball for putting down in the scrummage five yards outside the line. Taken out accordingly, but, instead of putting it down, the Scottish forwards drove the entire scrummage into the goal. And then grounded the ball and claimed a try. Though illegal according to English laws, the umpires allowed it and the goal kicked Cross.”

Buchanan also gets mentioned in one of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book – Angus Buchanan was born in a wizarding family but was non-magical i.e a Squib. He had published a “path breaking” book called My Life as a Squib. The book highlighted his struggles to survive in a community which disowned him. Also, the way he found a home in the Muggle world.

Manufacturing

Manufactured from satin touch 100% cotton, the Ellis Rugby 1st England Rugby T-Shirt International Match features detailed embroidery of a 1st International celebration red rose crest patch, herringbone detail on vents and velvet tape on the neck opening. In addition subtle Ellis Rugby branding on the collar stand and tone on tone logo on the arm.

Available in sizes S – 2XL.

As well as the 1st England Rugby T-Shirt International Match, we also offer the England International Rugby Shirt Vintage polo and the International England Rugby Shirt 1st Match.