Ancestor reveals Scots link to trophy

THE legend that the Calcutta Cup was created by a group of Englishmen exiled in India, for the benefit of rugby in England, was challenged at Murrayfield yesterday by an ancestor of one of the cup's originators.

Stanley Rothney, an 82-year-old rugby supporter from Peterculter near Aberdeen, is an ancestor of James Rothney, who was secretary of the Calcutta Football Club. The club of rugby exiles in India closed in 1877 and when it was being wound up, Rothney encouraged members to spend the club's remaining funds - the equivalent of 60 - in crafting the Calcutta Cup. It was first contested between Scotland and England in 1879 and was won by Scotland at Murrayfield in February.

Stanley Rothney admitted to being emotional, after many years of research, to be united with the famous cup. He said: "This trophy has been mentioned many times in the history of my family, yet the story of its Scottish link has never been told. James Rothney was born in England but was 100 per cent Scottish through parentage.

"James Rothney's family line disappeared because a number of boys born died early, sadly, so it means a lot to us to let people know about the efforts of our kith and kin - a good Scotsman who had an eye on the future. It is great to see how prestigious it has become because it shows the foresight of James and the club, who debated whether to spend the remaining money on a booze-up or do something more worthwhile. I think we're all glad they chose the latter because it is now priceless."

Scotland won the cup in 2000 and this year, but clearly England didn't believe they would lose it quite so quickly as they haven't yet engraved the winners of the years since 2000.