150 years of history celebrated with 1872 Cup refurbishment

Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors today marked 150 years of intercity rivalry with the unveiling of a replenished 1872 Cup trophy and commemorative plinth, as well as confirming the definitive ‘head-to-head’ of world rugby’s oldest intercity rivalry.

The sides first met on 23 November 1872 when Glasgow District met an Edinburgh District select at Burnbank in Glasgow. The match – played by teams of 20-a-side – was won by an Edinburgh drop-goal to nil, giving the men from the capital first victory.

The fixture has been contested annually ever since – save for five and six-year absences during World War One and World War Two respectively – and is a cornerstone of Scottish rugby history.

In 2007 the intercity contest was rebranded by the two sides in recognition of the historic derby, with ‘The 1872 Cup’ inaugurated in honour of that very first fixture.

Some 15 years on, Edinburgh Rugby sought the help of Hamilton & Inches – creators of both the Doddie Weir Cup and Cuttitta Cup – to begin a project of restoration and refurbishment that would revitalise the trophy but also retain the charm of the claret jug.

The 1872 Cup will now rest upon a newly commissioned three-tier plinth of European oak, the overall winners from 1872 to 2021 etched in silver – Edinburgh taking inter-city honours 70 times to Glasgow’s 52, with 15 draws.

The revitalised trophy will be in pride of place at Scotstoun Stadium for the opening derby this Friday night (23 December, kick-off 7.35pm), before heading to BT Murrayfeld for the deciding fixture on Friday 30 December (kick-off 7.35pm), where it will ultimately be presented to the victor on aggregate points.