Scotland claim unofficial title in Calcutta Cup victory over England

Scotland reclaimed the Calcutta Cup at the weekend with their 31-20 victory over England, after the English lifted the trophy last year in Twickenham.

The Murrayfield crowd were electric from before kick-off and throughout the night as they witnessed Gregor Townsend’s side silence the doubters with the win over the ‘Auld Enemy’.

It means that the Scots have kept their search for a first-ever Six Nations Championship alive, with their last title coming in 1999 when it was the Five Nations, and in the process denting England’s credentials in lifting the trophy in March.

As Sione Tuipulotu lofted the Calcutta Cup above his head to signal a victory over Steve Borthwick’s side, many fans may not have been aware that it was not the only title the Scots won on Saturday.

Wales' flanker Jac Morgan tackles Scotland's hooker Ewan Ashman during the Six Nations match. (Getty Images)

Scotland also won the Raeburn Shield, and will now defend this title against Wales.

What is the Raeburn Shield?

The Raeburn Shield is an unofficial trophy that traces match winners in men's rugby union back to the first international rugby union match when England squared off against Scotland in March 1871.

Scotland were victorious on that day in Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, and so became the first to become the Raeburn Shield defenders.

The title works in a similar way to linear boxing world titles, meaning that, from then on, the trophy has been awarded to the team that beats the holder in a Test match.

There have been a total of eight nations to have held the title, including all the home nations, the three Southern Hemisphere giants - South Africa, New Zealand and Australia - and France.

Unsurprisingly New Zealand have defended this title with the most success, with the second-best defenders of the Raeburn Shield being South Africa.

Tom Curry and battling Scottish players for loose ball. (Getty Images)

England had held the title after they beat France in the Six Nations at Twickenham last year, a win that would kickstart their 12-match unbeaten test run.

However, this defeat to Scotland has relinquished their grip on this title, awarding it to the first-ever holders of the title, with Townsend’s side set for their first defence of it this weekend.

The Scots will be confident they can defend the Raeburn Shield as they travel to Cardiff to face a Wales side that has only won two of their last 24 international Tests with their last Six Nations victory coming in March 2023 when they beat Italy.