1887 Home Nations Championship


The 1887 Home Nations Championship was the fifth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 8 January and 12 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Scotland won the championship outright for the first time, having shared the title with England in 1886; George Campbell Lindsay scored five tries against Wales, a record which still stands.

Results

Scoring system

The matches for this season were decided on goals scored. A goal was awarded for a successful conversion after a try, for a dropped goal or for a goal from mark. If a game was drawn, any unconverted tries were tallied to give a winner. If there was still no clear winner, the match was declared a draw.

The matches

Wales vs. England

Wales: Harry Bowen, Charles Taylor, Arthur Gould, Charlie Newman capt., Billy Douglas, Jem Evans, Albert Hybart, Bob Gould, Alexander Bland, William Bowen, D Morgan, Edward Alexander, Tom Clapp, Willie Thomas, Thomas William Lockwood
England: Samuel Roberts, Richard Lockwood, Rawson Robertshaw, John Le Fleming, Alan Rotherham capt., Fred Bonsor, Robert Seddon, WG Clibbon, CR Cleveland, GL Jeffery, Lawrie Hickson, JH Dewhurst, Edgar Wilkinson, N Spurling, HC Baker
----

Ireland vs. England

Ireland: Dolway Walkington, CR Tillie, DF Rambaut, R Montgomery, JH McLaughlin, RG Warren capt., Victor Le Fanu, Thomas Lyle, EJ Walsh, JS Dick, R Stevenson, J Macauley, J Chambers, J Johnston, HJ Neill
England: S Roberts, RE Lockwood, A St L Fagan, WN Bolton, A Rotherham capt., Mason Scott, Robert Seddon, WG Clibbon, CJB Marriott, GL Jeffery, JL Hickson, JH Dewhurst, AT Kemble, FE Pease, A Teggin
----

Ireland vs. Scotland

Ireland: JM O'Sullivan, CR Tillie, DF Rambaut, R Montgomery, JH McLaughlin, RG Warren capt., CM Moore, Thomas Lyle, EJ Walsh, JS Dick, R Stevenson, J Macauley, J Chambers, J Johnston, HJ Neill
Scotland: WF Holmes, Bill Maclagan, DJ McFarlan, AN Woodrow, PH Don Wauchope, CE Orr, Robert MacMillan, AT Clay, J French, TW Irvine, WC McEwan, CW Berry, C Reid capt., HT Ker, DS Morton
----

Scotland vs. Wales

Scotland: AWC Cameron, Bill Maclagan, GC Lindsay, AN Woodrow, PH Don Wauchope, CE Orr, Robert MacMillan, AT Clay, J French, TW Irvine, WC McEwan, CW Berry, C Reid capt., HT Ker, DS Morton
Wales: Hugh Hughes, David Gwynn, Arthur Gould, George Bowen, Billy Douglas, Jem Evans, William Williams, Bob Gould capt., Alexander Bland, William Bowen, D Morgan, Evan Richards, Tom Clapp, Willie Thomas, Thomas William Lockwood
----

England vs. Scotland

England: HB Tristram, RE Lockwood, R Robertshaw, WN Bolton, A Rotherham capt., F Bonsor, Robert Seddon, WG Clibbon, CR Cleveland, GL Jeffery, JL Hickson, JH Dewhurst, E Wilkinson, HH Springman, A Teggin
Scotland: WF Holmes, Bill Maclagan, GC Lindsay, AN Woodrow, PH Don Wauchope, CE Orr, Robert MacMillan, AT Clay, J French, TW Irvine, WC McEwan, CW Berry, C Reid capt., HT Ker, DS Morton
----

Wales vs. Ireland

Wales: Samuel Clark, Charles Taylor, Arthur Gould, George Bowen, John Goulstone Lewis, William Stadden, William Williams, Evan Roberts, Alexander Bland, William Bowen, D Morgan, Edward Alexander, Tom Clapp capt., William Towers, Thomas William Lockwood
Ireland: Dolway Walkington, Maxwell Carpendale, DF Rambaut, R Montgomery, PJ O'Connor, RG Warren capt., Victor Le Fanu, T Taggart, EJ Walsh, JS Dick, R Stevenson, W Davison, J Chambers, J Johnston, HJ Neill