On Saturday, Scotland and England will compete for the Calcutta cup for the 132nd time. This fixture has taken on a new identity in recent years. What was once an England stronghold has transformed into Scotland’s proving ground, as the Scots have flipped the script on the oldest rivalry.
With five wins in the last in the last six meetings, including a record-breaking victory at Twickenham in 2023, followed by another dominant display at Murrayfield in 2024. Scotland have turned the Calcutta Cup into a symbol of their resurgence on the international stage.
The Turning Point
For nearly a decade, Scotland were chasing shadows in this fixture. Between 2009 and 2017, England held the Calcutta uncontested, but everything changed in 2018. That year, Gregor Townsend’s Scotland side stunned England 25-13 at Murrayfield, with Finn Russell’s audacious grubber kick to Huw Jones setting the tone for a new era. England were rattled. Scotland believed.
Since then, England have only beaten Scotland once in six attempts. The Scots have rewritten the narrative, transforming the fixture from an expected England win into one of rugby’s most unpredictable rivalries.
Memorable Wins
Each of Scotland’s recent victories has told a different story, but the common theme? Fearless, attacking rugby and unwavering self-belief.
2021 – Breaking the Twickenham Curse
A historic 11-6 win saw Scotland claim their first victory at Twickenham since 1983. The game wasn’t just a win – it was a statement. Scotland controlled possession, defended heroically and Finn Russell pulled the strings in a performance that interrupted four decades of English dominance.
2022 – The Comeback at Murrayfield
Scotland trailed heading into the final quarter, but Ali Price and Darcy Graham’s late heroics secured a 20-17 win, proving that 2021 wasn’t a one off. The Scots now had England’s number.
2023 – A Twickenham Masterclass
If 2021 broke the drought, 2023 was a seismic shift. Scotland ran riot in a 29-23 win, with Duhan van der Merwe’s solo wonder try lighting up the Six Nations. His blend of power and pace saw him bulldoze through England’s defence, a moment that secured him as one of the world’s best wingers.
2024 – Hattrick Heroics
By 2024, England were no longer the favourites in this fixture. Scotland had the power and van der Merwe’s hattrick in a 30-21 triumph only reinforced their grip on the cup. The Scots celebrated yet another Calcutta win.
2025 – Can England Break the Streak?
On Saturday, 22 nd February 2025, England will step onto home ground at the Allianz Stadium (previously Twickenham), not just to face their oldest rivals, but to try and reclaim a trophy that has slipped through their fingers time and time again in recent memory.
England’s players know what’s at stake. The post-match celebrations from Scotland in 2024 stung, with Joe Marler admitting that Scotland’s dominance had left England frustrated and embarrassed.
There’s a sense that this might be England’s best chance to turn the side. Steve Borthwick’s side have had another year to develop under his leadership, and the team will want to prove that England can be aggressors, not just responders. But Scotland won’t back down, they expect to win this fixture now. Allianz Stadium Twickenham is no longer a fortress – it’s a proving ground.
Who will rise? Who will falter? Will Allianz Stadium belong to England once again or will Scotland’s dominance continue. Calcutta Cup 2025: The stage is set.
