The Calcutta Cup
The Calcutta Cup is the oldest trophy awarded to the winner of England versus Scotland in the Rugby Six Nations Championship.
The other trophies in the Six Nations Championship are the Millennium Trophy, won by the winner of the match played between England and Ireland, the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy for the winner of the France-Italy match, the Doddie Weir cup for Scotland-Wales, the Auld Alliance Trophy, which goes to the victor of the France-Scotland competition, and the Cuttitt Cup for Italy-Scotland. The Centenary Quaich goes to the Ireland-Scotland winners.
A quaich is a Gaelic shallow drinking cup with two handles. It is often called the cup of friendship or loving cup and originated in the Highlands as a drinking cup for whisky or brandy. Originally, they were made from wood, but can now be designed in sterling silver or pewter as well as wood. Some even have glass bottoms so that the drinkers, can see each other, or, in a double glass base, hold a lock of hair from a loved one. The two handles ensure that both hands are used to hold the vessel, thus ensuring that no-one can hold a weapon at the same time, and symbolising trust between the giver and the receiver. They often feature at Scottish wedding ceremonies.
Twenty-eight minutes after the start of the match the score was Scotland 24 to England 10. ‘Flower of Scotland’ rang around the stadium. At this point, I wondered how much more of the match we would be seeing, as complaints and criticism poured forth from the once-upon-a-time rugby player I live with. ‘Schoolboy errors,’ ‘What are they up to?’ ‘I’ve seen better play from clubs,’ and ‘Lack of discipline,’ are some of the politer comments.
Some of the commentators amused me. ‘Get your heads in there, sacrifice your ears.’
Two yellows and a red card for the England team before the end of the first half and the match was turned off. Oh, dear!
We then turned to the Ireland-Italy match. This was adjudged ‘much better.’ Thank goodness for that, though I wish Italy had won. It’s their turn for glory, surely.
Although Oldest Son played rugby for a couple of years in high school and college I know little about the game.
ReplyDeleteHusband, son and youngest daughter played. Two oldest great-grandchildren play, but still I know only the bare bones of the game, but like watching it.
DeleteThat is interesting background of the loving cup. I had no idea of its history.
ReplyDeleteWe've never used our quaichs - don't suppose we ever will!
DeleteYesterday (14 Feb), England beat Scotland in Kolkata (earlier called Calcutta) in the T20 Cricket World Cup that is being played in India and Sri Lanka. England won by 5 wickets with 10 balls remaing. The radio commentators on BBC Five Live were referring to Calcutta Cup ... And today, I see a post by you on Calcutta Cup ... What a coincidence!
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty amazing that England won the T20. Their performance has been dire recently, but yes, what a coincidence.
DeleteI know the original wooden quaich was used for spirits, but then in the C19th it was known that Sir Walter Scott poured spirits in gorgeous silver quaichs. The spirits may have tasted the same, but the precious metals were much more engraved and gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteScott also had wooden quaichs made from Queen Mary's yew, and one from the Waterloo elm , after the Battle of Waterloo.
DeleteApologies but I offer up congratulations to the Scots - about time we say.
ReplyDeleteYou're quite right, of course. 😉
DeleteIt's only a game! 😆 (ducks head and slinks away...)
ReplyDeleteIt is, but all too often forgotten as 'only a game.'
DeleteThank you for the interesting background information about the loving cup. I can see the charm in the glass bottom, but really wouldn't want it to be a double glass bottom with a lock of hair in between - knowing full well the hair can't get into the drink, I find the idea somehow... weird. (I don't want to say revolting.)
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't care to see a lock of hair at the bottom of a drinking vessel, either, however securely contained.
DeleteI wish they woulld show these games on our satellite sports channels. So many european countries play rugby. But it's soccor and little else
ReplyDeleteToo much time and coverage is given to football. I can't stand football. 🤨
DeleteMy Welsh ex rugby player is totally dismayed with his team, he loves the 6 nations matches, but never enjoys watching Wales play so badly, he often turns off before the end of a match.
ReplyDeleteWales must come up the rankings again soon, surely. It's about time.
DeleteHe refused to watch today.
DeleteI went back to the Olympics after the red card.
ReplyDeleteOh well, there's always next year.
It's some compensation to realise that we only have to wait a year, rather than four!
ReplyDeleteIt's a pretty looking cup and an interesting background. Thanks for the information. Enjoyed the read.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteInteresting history about the loving cup.
ReplyDeleteSome traditions have a long history.
DeleteIt was a turn-up. Husband was disappointed but agreed Scotland was the better team on the day. I fear Wales is heading for the wooden spoon. Again. I really don't want to watch the game against France today! It could be a massacre. I noticed that comment too.
ReplyDeleteWe turned off the Wales-France match - so disappointing and so little crowd support. I can't blame them, really, it's not cheap to travel to matches.
DeleteMy hubby does what your hubby does, but is Football he is watching, he is a commentator and I am glad he is not behind a microphone,
ReplyDeleteHe also does the same thing with his beloved Nascar Racing, which is now on the TV as I type. he tells each driver what they are doing wrong, tells them what and when and how to DRIVE... he is a retired race car driver from the years before we met.
It's wonderful to hear how expert they all are! 🤣😂
DeleteHe is watching the Wales France match, with a lot of comments, like you couldn't punch your way out of a bag. Yesterday he put the England Scotland cricket match on and tried to interest Baby C, who wasn't having anything to do with that thank you. Xx
ReplyDeleteAww, bless little C!
DeleteInteresting about the Calcutta Cup and also the other cups. I didn't watch any of the matches yesterday but I gather it wasn't a glorious day for England.
ReplyDeleteYou could say that!!
DeleteI don't watch any of the sports or Olympics on TV. I don't get the channels here in the US. Interesting about the Calcutta Cup. Have a nice day today.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteGet your heads in there, sacrifice your ears! 🤣
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of humour in commentary.
DeleteI don't watch rugby ...
ReplyDeleteHowever, I've just seen that Team GB now have three gold medals from the Winter Olympics ... so a little bit of good news there :)
I've had a wonderful Sunday with the family, the grandchildren were there too and it was so lovely to spend time with them hearing their news and finding out what they will be doing for next weeks half term.
I hope the new week will be a good one for you.
All the best Jan
I'm glad you had a lovely day with your family. Talking to the grandchildren is always illuminating.
DeleteHave a good week as Jan says-Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteIt's a pretty cup. I haven't watched any of the games, didn't even know they were on, such is my non-interest in sports.
ReplyDeleteCan't miss it here on the news!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this very much. We had a lovely morning watching the Olympics with our son. He knows more about what's going on than we do these days. We are wondering when the child became the parent, smiling here.
ReplyDeleteThat transformation takes place quite subtly until one day you realise you've switched positions with your offspring. It's the natural order of things.
DeleteMy daughter and her husband had a 'handfast' ceremony. Her sister brought a quaich for it. It was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting way of committing to each other and rather beautiful.
ReplyDelete