The match was played with 20 players a side and two 50 minutes halves to the match!

Here is the first ever international rugby match jersey of 1871. In December 1870 five Scottish football clubs invited English footballers to participate to a match played by the “Rugby Rules”. This challenge was ignored by the England Football Association but Blackheath, one of London's oldest clubs selected the 20 players who would be the first to wear the famous “red rose”. The day of the match, Monday 27th March 1871 “The Scotsman” ran an advertisement giving the time, the place and an entrance fee of one shilling.

4,000 people paid to see the match. Edinburgh’s Raeburn Place, became the venue for the first ever international match. It was played over two 50 minutes halves and Scotland won with a goal and a try to only one try by England. The first international try was scored by Angus Buchanan, and converted by W. Cross.

In those days the try simply gave a chance to kick at the posts, a “try at goal”, the ball going over the post was the score and a goal, which is now called the conversion. There were no penalty goals, as it was understood that gentlemen would not cheat.