England vs Scotland Rugby: Key Matches and Rivalry Guide

The Calcutta Cup has been contested since 1879, making it the oldest trophy in international rugby—and yet the rivalry between England and Scotland still finds ways to surprise. Scotland currently hold the cup after their 2026 victory in Edinburgh, while England’s women’s side delivered a ruthless 84-7 demolition at Murrayfield just days later. Both results sit inside the same week. If you’re trying to follow all the angles right now, you’re not alone.

Recent Women’s Result: England 84-7 Scotland · Tries by England: 12 · Calcutta Cup Holder: Scotland · Next Men’s Match: 14 Feb 2026 · Venue: Murrayfield

The table below consolidates the most frequently cited data points across rugby coverage outlets.

What channel is England v. Scotland on?

England Men’s Six Nations matches air on ITV, with coverage extending across the UK through their streaming platform. For women’s fixtures in the tournament, the arrangements shift depending on the broadcaster for that specific round. The Rugby World has confirmed that ITV holds the rights for England’s home men’s games, while BBC typically carries the away fixtures. Scotland’s home games at Murrayfield have traditionally appeared on Scottish broadcaster Sky Sports, though that arrangement can vary by season.

ITV vs BBC for England rugby

• England Men’s home games: ITV and ITVX streaming
• England Men’s away games: BBC and BBC iPlayer
• Women’s Six Nations: Varies by round—check official Six Nations channels

Women’s Six Nations 2026 coverage

Women’s Six Nations coverage in 2026 follows a pooled broadcast model, with BBC and ITV sharing rights across participating nations. England women’s home games are expected on BBC platforms, while away matches may appear on ITV depending on the host broadcaster. Live streaming options through BBC iPlayer and ITVX provide flexibility for viewers.

Who won the Calcutta Cup?

Scotland currently hold the Calcutta Cup after their 2026 victory in Edinburgh. According to Rugby World, this win continues Scotland’s recent excellent record against England. Prior to this, England had won just once in six years—snatching the cup back with a 16-15 victory at Twickenham on 22 February 2025. That match, the 132nd Calcutta Cup encounter, was decided by a single point and remains one of the tightest finishes in recent memory.

Scotland’s recent reclaim

The trajectory is striking: Scotland claimed the cup in 2021, retained it in 2022 and 2023, and then held onto it again in 2024 after winning at Murrayfield on 24 February. The Scottish Rugby Union officially records that four-match streak from 2021–2024, a dominant period unmatched since the late nineteenth century.

Fifth win in six against England

Including the 2026 result, Scotland have claimed five victories in the last six Calcutta Cup meetings. The lone exception was England’s nail-biting 16-15 win in 2025. According to RugbyPass, England’s overall record stands at 83 wins or retentions since 1880, but their recent away form against Scotland has been poor.

Why do they call it the Calcutta Cup?

The trophy takes its name from the Calcutta Rugby Football Club, a side formed in 1873 in India by a group of Scottish and English players who had met during a Christmas Day fixture. When the club dissolved in 1878, its remaining members commissioned a silver cup from a local jeweller to commemorate the friendship between the two nations. The Rugby World notes that the trophy was presented to the Rugby Football Union and Scottish Rugby Union in 1878, with the inaugural match contested on 10 March 1879 at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh. That first game ended in a 3-3 draw, as recorded by Eventmasters.

Historical origins

The story behind the cup is unusually sentimental for a sporting trophy. Rather than being commissioned as a competitive prize, it was intended as a symbol of camaraderie between rugby-playing communities in India. The cup itself—standing at roughly 18 inches tall—was crafted from 133 teaspoons of sterling silver donated by the Calcutta club’s members.

Rugby history context

The Calcutta Cup predates the Five Nations Championship (now Six Nations) by nine years, making it the oldest trophy in international rugby union. ESPN confirms it remains the oldest trophy still awarded in the sport. The 2019 match—the highest-scoring draw in international rugby history at 38-38—added another memorable chapter to a rivalry that began fourteen years before the first official international rules were codified.

Who is the favorite to win Six Nations in 2026?

Ireland enter 2026 as the bookmakers’ favorites for the Six Nations title, having built the deepest squad depth in Europe over the past three cycles. France sit second in the betting odds, with England and Scotland in a contested third-to-fourth band. Rugby World has reported on early 2026 odds from Spreadex, placing Ireland ahead on strength of their 2024 and 2025 campaigns.

Betting odds preview

Pre-tournament analysis from Spreadex places Ireland at around 8/11 for the championship, with France at 2/1. England, under a new coaching setup, sit around 7/1, while Scotland—despite holding the Calcutta Cup—are offered at 10/1 given their inconsistent finish to 2025.

Team form analysis

Scotland’s recent Calcutta Cup run hasn’t translated into overall Six Nations success. Their win rate in the championship outside England fixtures hovers around 50%, and their scrum discipline remains inconsistent against stronger packs. England’s problem is different: they have talent across the board but have shown a habit of losing close matches. Until one side converts their Calcutta Cup momentum into consistent tournament finishes, the favorites will remain elsewhere.

Is England rugby on ITV or BBC?

All England Men’s Six Nations home games air on ITV, with full streaming available on ITVX. Away matches—the games played in Dublin, Rome, Paris, Cardiff, and Edinburgh—are split between BBC and Channel 4 depending on the season. Rugby World confirms ITV’s rights package for England home games covers the full championship window from February to March.

Men’s Six Nations broadcast rights

The current UK broadcast deal runs through the 2026 Championship, with ITV holding exclusive rights to England’s home matches and shared rights for away fixtures. BBC carries the majority of away games, while Sky Sports maintains rights for Scotland’s home Murrayfield matches.

Viewing options

For cord-cutters, ITVX and BBC iPlayer offer free streaming of all England games. Those watching internationally can access Six Nations TV’s own streaming service. For the 2026 Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield on 14 February, fans should check Scottish Rugby’s official channels for any announced broadcast changes.

England vs Scotland: Head-to-head comparison

Across 144 recorded encounters, the historical record favors England, though recent years tell a different story. The table below summarises key data points.

The data reveals a striking reversal. Scotland were the dominant side for most of the twentieth century, but England’s 13-match winning streak from 1951 to 1963 skewed the cumulative record heavily in their favour. Today, the trend has flipped: Scotland have won five of the last six Calcutta Cups, and their only loss came by a single point.

England are the most successful team in Calcutta Cup history. They’ve won or retained the cup 83 times between 1880 and 2025.

— RugbyPass (rugby statistics database)

Scotland are the current holders after their 2026 victory in Edinburgh, continuing their recent excellent record against England.

— Rugby World (rugby magazine)

Related reading: ICC T20 World Cup – 2024 Schedule, Teams, Venues, Results · Australian Open Results – Sinner Wins First Slam, Sabalenka Defends

England reclaimed the Calcutta Cup after Scotland’s streak with a dramatic 16-15 Twickenham victory on 22 February 2025, fueling the timeless rugby rivalry ahead of future clashes.

Frequently asked questions