1891 Home Nations Championship


The 1891 Home Nations Championship was the ninth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 3 January and 7 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The 1891 Championship was won by Scotland, the fourth time the country had topped the table, but the first time Scotland had taken the Triple Crown title.
Rule changes this year, included the introduction of penalty goals, as although penalty kicks were introduced in 1882 no goal attempts could be made from one until this season. The two umpires were renamed as touch-judges and their powers were reduced to mark the spot where the ball left the field of play; a status that remained until additional powers were reinstated in 1982. Players could now pick up a dead ball, and the dead ball line was set at a maximum of 25 yards.

Results

Scoring system

The matches for this season were decided on points scored. A try was worth one point, while converting a kicked goal from the try gave an additional two points. A dropped goal was worth three points. Penalty goals were now worth three points, as although introduced in 1882, no attempt could be made from a penalty kick at goal until this season.

The matches

Wales vs. England

Wales: Billy Bancroft, Tom Pearson, Charlie Arthur, David Gwynn, Percy Lloyd, Charlie Thomas, Hugh Ingledew, Percy Bennett, David William Evans, Harry Packer, William Bowen capt., Walter Rice Evans, Jim Hannan, Rowley Thomas, Edward Pegge
England: William Grant Mitchell, Frederic Alderson capt., RE Lockwood, Percy Christopherson, William Leake, J Berry, Eustace North, Tom Kent, Sammy Woods, JT Toothill, D Jowett, Richard Budworth, RP Wilson, William Bromet, J Richards
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Ireland vs. England

Ireland Dolway Walkington capt., RW Dunlop, S Lee, R Montgomery, Benjamin Tuke, AC McDonnell, JN Lytle, EG Forrest, J Waites, JH O'Conner, CV Rooke, J Roche, WJN Davis, Victor Le Fanu, LC Nash
England: William Grant Mitchell, Frederic Alderson capt., RE Lockwood, Piercy Morrison, William Leake, J Berry, Eustace North, Tom Kent, Sammy Woods, JT Toothill, D Jowett, Launcelot Percival, RP Wilson, William Bromet, J Richards
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Scotland vs. Wales

Scotland: Henry Stevenson, Gregor MacGregor, Paul Clauss, W Neilson, CE Orr, Darsie Anderson, Frederick Goodhue, A Dalglish, HTO Leggatt, GT Neilson, MC McEwan capt., I MacIntyre, Robert MacMillan, JD Boswell, JE Orr
Wales: Billy Bancroft, William McCutcheon, Dickie Garrett, David Gwynn, George Thomas, Ralph Sweet-Escott, Hugh Ingledew, Percy Bennett, Sydney Nicholls, Tom Graham, William Bowen, Walter Rice Evans, David Daniel, Rowley Thomas, Willie Thomas capt.
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Ireland vs. Scotland

Ireland Dolway Walkington capt., RW Dunlop, S Lee, HG Wells, Benjamin Tuke, ED Cameron, JN Lytle, RD Stokes, J Moffatt, JH O'Conner, JH O'Conor, J Roche, WJN Davis, EF Frazer, LC Nash
Scotland: Henry Stevenson, Gregor MacGregor, Paul Clauss, GR Wilson, CE Orr, William Wotherspoon, Frederick Goodhue, A Dalglish, HTO Leggatt, GT Neilson, MC McEwan capt., I MacIntyre, WR Gibson, JD Boswell West of Scotland, JE Orr
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England vs. Scotland

England: William Grant Mitchell, Frederic Alderson capt., RE Lockwood, Percy Christopherson, William Leake, J Berry, Eustace North, Tom Kent, Sammy Woods, Edgar Bonham-Carter, D Jowett, Richard Budworth, RP Wilson, John Rogers, J Richards
Scotland: Henry Stevenson, Gregor MacGregor, Paul Robert Clauss, Willie Neilson, CE Orr, Darsie Anderson, Robert MacMillan, HTO Leggatt, GT Neilson, MC McEwan capt., I MacIntyre, WR Gibson, JD Boswell, JE Orr
----

Wales vs. Ireland

Wales: Billy Bancroft, Tom Pearson, Dickie Garrett, Charlie Thomas, Percy Lloyd, Evan James, David James, John Samuel, Charles Nicholl, Tom Graham, Stephen Thomas, Tom Deacon, David Samuel, Rowley Thomas, Willie Thomas capt.
Ireland Dolway Walkington, RW Dunlop, S Lee, HG Wells, R Pedlow, ED Cameron, T Fogarty, RD Stokes, FO Stoker, JS Jameson, R Stevenson capt., J Roche, WJN Davis, CV Rooke, L.C. Nash