The 1872 Cup: A Historic Rivalry Renewed For The Festive Season
The 1872 Cup: A Historic Rivalry Renewed For The Festive Season
Discover the historic 1872 Cup rivalry, as the Glasgow Warriors face Edinburgh Rugby this December. Watch live on FloRugby for North American fans.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for Scottish rugby fans.
As the festive season approaches, so does one of the sport’s oldest and most storied rivalries: the 1872 Cup.
- Subscribe To FloRugby To Watch Champions Cup In 2024-25
- Who's The Best Rugby Team In The World? Here Are The Top 50 Rugby Clubs
- 100 Best Rugby Players In The World: Here's The Full List
This December, the Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby go head-to-head in a two-legged series that will determine bragging rights and etch another chapter into a tradition spanning over 140 years.
For North American rugby fans, the matches will be streamed live on FloRugby.
A Rivalry Rooted In History
The 1872 Cup commemorates the world’s first non-international rugby union representative match, played at Burnbank Park in Glasgow on November 23, 1872.
That initial meeting saw Edinburgh emerge victorious, but it wasn’t until the advent of professionalism in the 1990s that a trophy was introduced to formalize the competition.
From its amateur beginnings, the rivalry has grown into a professional-era spectacle.
Initially contested as part of the Scottish Inter-District Championship starting in 1953, the competition evolved through formats and sponsorships.
By 2007, the Cup had been revived as the 1872 Challenge Cup, named for the historic first match.
Today, it is contested during United Rugby Championship league fixtures, with aggregate scores from the two matches deciding the winner.
Two Teams, Two South African Coaches
This year’s edition pits two South African head coaches against one another.
Franco Smith, fresh off guiding the Glasgow Warriors to their first URC title last season, faces off against Sean Everitt, who recently took the reins at Edinburgh Rugby.
Both coaches bring tactical prowess and a keen understanding of big-match pressure, promising a strategic and hard-fought derby.
The Warriors come into the series as the reigning URC champions, brimming with confidence and hungry to retain the Cup.
Edinburgh, on the other hand, will look to spoil the party and reclaim the trophy after a spirited but challenging start to their season.
The Format
The 1872 Cup is decided on aggregate scores across the two legs, ignoring bonus points from the URC.
This pure rivalry ensures that every point scored on the field matters, adding a layer of intensity to each match.
Glasgow will host the first leg at a packed Scotstoun Stadium, while Edinburgh welcomes its rivals to Murrayfield for the decisive second leg.
Festive Rugby At Its Best
Matches traditionally are held during the Christmas and New Year period, drawing bumper crowds to the largest venues in Scotland.
The fiery derby atmosphere, combined with the festive cheer, makes the 1872 Cup a highlight of the rugby calendar.
Since its formalization, attendance figures have soared, with combined crowds often exceeding 150,000 fans over the years.
North American rugby fans can catch all the action live on FloRugby, ensuring they don’t miss a moment of this historic rivalry. Whether you’re a seasoned follower or new to the sport, the 1872 Cup offers a spectacle of tradition, passion and world-class rugby.
Will Glasgow’s championship pedigree shine through, or will Edinburgh play spoiler in the year’s most anticipated Scottish rugby clash? Tune in to find out!
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.