JW Arthur’s Scotland Cap
The object of the month for May is a new addition to our collection that has been kindly loaned to us by Glasgow Academicals FC.
It is a Scotland cap from the first ever rugby international in 1871, that was awarded to J W Arthur. Arthur played seven seasons for 'Accies' and was capped for Scotland twice. He was also one of a small group of Scottish club players who instigated the first ever international match, writing to the Secretary of Blackheath:
"…we, representing the whole footballing interest of Scotland, hereby challenge any team selected from the whole of England, to play us a match, twenty a side Rugby rules".
The match was played at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh and saw the home side win by 1 goal and 1 try to England's 1 try.
Arthur's cap is on display in the museum alongside Guillemard's 1871 England cap. They are the oldest international rugby caps in the world.
