The Calcutta Cup is competed for in which sport and between whom?

The Calcutta Cup is competed for annually between the Scottish and English international rugby union sides. As of 2018, 125 Calcutta Cup matches have taken place. Currently, this game is the annual match between these two nations within the annual Six Nations Championship tournament involving England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

The fixture originated in Calcutta on Christmas Day 1872, in a rugby game between 20 players representing England on one side and 20 representing Scotland on the other. This led to the formation of the Calcutta Football Club in 1873. For many reasons, not least of which were climate and the discontinuation of the free club bar, the Club members decided to disband. Keen to perpetuate the name of the Club, members converted Club funds into silver rupees, melted down and made into a cup which they presented to the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in 1878, with the provision that it should be competed for annually.

The first Calcutta Cup match was played in 1879 and ended in a draw. In 1880 England became the first winners of the Cup. Except for war years matches have continued on an annual basis ever since.

The cup is 18 inches high with a finely engraved body with three king cobras forming the handles and the domed lid surmounted by an elephant. The inscription on the Cup's wooden base reads: THE CALCUTTA CUP.

The original trophy is kept in a purpose-built showcase in the RFU Museum of Rugby in Twickenham.