Calcutta Cup 2017 Tickets

The Calcutta Cup, one of the oldest rugby fixtures in the world, has been a part of the sporting calendar for over a century. The match between England and Scotland is played annually as part of the Six Nations Championship. The 2017 clash saw the two teams battle it out at Twickenham Stadium on March 11th.

The fierce rivalry between the two nations dates back to 1871 when they played the first ever international rugby match. The Calcutta Cup was introduced in 1879, when a group of British soldiers based in India decided to donate a silver cup to the Rugby Football Union (RFU). Seven years later, the cup was first contested between England and Scotland, with the home team emerging victorious.

Since then, England have dominated the fixture, winning 70 out of the 135 matches played, while Scotland have 43 wins, with 22 games ending in draws. However, in recent years, Scotland has posed a tougher challenge, with their two most recent victories coming in 2006 and 2008.

In the lead up to the 2017 game, both teams suffered significant injuries, particularly England who were without key players Billy Vunipola, Chris Robshaw and George Kruis. However, despite these setbacks, England came into the match on a 17-game unbeaten run and were favorites to win.

The game got off to an exciting start, with Scotland surprising England through a try within the first few minutes of the game. However, England quickly regained control, scoring three tries in quick succession, including one by debutant outside center Ben Te'o. Despite Scotland managing another try before halftime, England went into the break leading 20-18.

The second half saw England dominate possession, with two more tries from Jonny May and Danny Care sealing the victory for the home team. Scotland's fullback Stuart Hogg managed a consolation try late in the game, but it was too late to mount a comeback.

The final score of 61-21 was England's biggest ever win in the fixture, and also set a new record for the most points scored in a Calcutta Cup match. The victory keeps alive England's hopes of securing their second consecutive Six Nations title.

Despite the result, the atmosphere at Twickenham was electric, with fans from both teams passionately supporting their nation. The rivalry between England and Scotland remains as strong as ever, making the Calcutta Cup a fixture not to be missed by rugby fanatics.