# 1879–80 Home Nations rugby union matches

The 1879–80 Home Nations rugby union matches were a series of international rugby union friendlies held between the England, Ireland and Scotland national rugby union teams.
The only recognised competition held between the countries was the annual Calcutta Cup match, contested between England and Scotland. It was the second challenge for the Cup.

## Results

* 2 February 1880
| Ireland | 0 – 1 | England |
* Dublin, Ireland
* 14 February 1880
| Scotland | 3 – 0 | Ireland |
* Glasgow, Scotland
* 28 February 1880
| England | 2 – 1 | Scotland |
* Manchester, England

### Scoring system

The matches for this season were decided on goals scored. A goal was awarded for a successful conversion after a try, for a dropped goal or for a goal from mark. If a game was drawn, any unconverted tries were tallied to give a winner. If there was still no clear winner, the match was declared a draw.

## The matches
### Ireland vs. England

* 2 February 1880
| Ireland | 1T – 1G 1T | England |
| Try: Cuppaidge | | Try: Ellis Markendale Con: Stokes |
* Lansdowne Road, Ireland Referee: GP Nugent (Dublin)

#### Ireland

    RB Walkington (NIFC), AM Whitestone (Dublin University), JC Bagot (Dublin University), WT Heron (NIFC), M Johnston (Dublin University), AJ Forrest (Wanderers), F Kennedy (Wanderers), A Millar (Kingstown), HC Kelly (NIFC) capt., JW Taylor (NIFC), JA McDonald (Wanderers), JL Cuppaidge (Wanderers), RW Hughes (NIFC), G Scriven (Dublin University), HH Purdon (NIFC)

#### England

    TW Fry (Queen's House), AN Hornby (Manchester), L Stokes (Blackheath) capt., R Hunt (Manchester), HT Twynam (Richmond), AH Jackson (Blackheath), S Neame (Old Cheltonians), Charles Gurdon (Richmond), B Kilner (Wakefield Trinity), GF Vernon (Blackheath), E Woodhead (Dublin University), SS Ellis (Queen's House), HC Rowley (Manchester), E Markendale (Manchester Rangers), JW Schofield (Manchester Rangers)

### Scotland vs. Ireland

* 14 February 1880
| Scotland | 1G 2DG 1T – nil | Ireland |
| Try: Ewart (2) Masters Cons: Cross Drop: Finlay (2) | | |
* Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow Referee: A Buchanan (Scotland)

#### Scotland

    Bill Maclagan (Edinburgh Academical), Malcolm Cross (Glasgow Academical), Ninian Finlay (Edinburgh Academical), WH Masters (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), WS Brown (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), Robert Ainslie (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), CAR Stewart (West of Scotland), JB Brown (Glasgow Academical), EN Ewart (Glasgow Academical), RW Irvine (Edinburgh Academical) capt., AG Petrie (Royal HSFP), JHS Graham (Edinburgh Academical), D McCowan (West of Scotland), NT Brewis (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), John Guthrie Tait (Edinburgh Academical)

#### Ireland

    RB Walkington (NIFC), T Harrison (Queen's College, Cork), JC Bagot (Dublin University), WT Heron (NIFC), M Johnston (Dublin University), AJ Forrest (Wanderers), AP Cronyn, A Millar (Kingstown), HC Kelly (NIFC) capt., JW Taylor (NIFC), WL Finlay (NIFC), JL Cuppaidge (Wanderers), RW Hughes (NIFC), G Scriven (Dublin University), WA Wallis (Dublin University)

### England vs. Scotland

* 28 February 1880
| England | 2G 3T – 1G | Scotland |
| Try: Burton Fry Gurdon Taylor (2) Con: Stokes (2) | | Try: Brown Con: Cross |
* Whalley Range, Manchester Referee: A. G. Guillemard (England)

#### England

    TW Fry (Queen's House), C. M. Sawyer (Broughton), L Stokes (Blackheath) capt., RT Finch (Cambridge University), HH Taylor (St. George's Hospital), CH Coates (Cambridge University), S Neame (Old Cheltonians), Charles Gurdon (Richmond), C Phillips (Oxford University), GF Vernon (Blackheath), G Harrison (Hull), George Burton (Blackheath), HC Rowley (Manchester), ET Gurdon (Richmond), Roger Walker (Manchester)

#### Scotland

    Bill Maclagan (Edinburgh Academical), Malcolm Cross (Glasgow Academical), Ninian Finlay (Edinburgh Academical), WH Masters (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), WS Brown (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), Robert Ainslie (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), CAR Stewart (West of Scotland), JB Brown (Glasgow Academical), EN Ewart (Glasgow Academical), RW Irvine (Edinburgh Academical) capt., AG Petrie (Royal HSFP), JHS Graham (Edinburgh Academical), D McCowan (West of Scotland), NT Brewis (Edinburgh Inst. F.P.), DY Cassels (West of Scotland)