The only recognised competition held between the countries was the annual Calcutta Cup match, contested between England and Scotland.
Ireland: RE McLean (NIFC), JR Atkinson, Thomas St. George McCarthy (Dublin University), WW Fletcher (Kingston), EH Greene (Dublin University), GC Bent (Dublin University), AJ Forrest (Wanderers) capt., JM Kennedy (Wanderers), F Kennedy (Wanderers), HB Morell (Dublin University), EA McCarthey (Kingstown), WA Wallis (Wanderers), AJ Downing (Dublin University), FS Heuston (Kingstown), RG Thompson (Lansdowne) Wales: Charles Lewis (Llandovery College) capt., Samuel Clark (Neath), William Norton (Cardiff), Bill Evans (Rhymney), Charlie Newman (Newport), George Frederick Harding (Newport), James Bridie (Newport), Hugh Vincent (Bangor), Frank Purdon (Swansea) Tom Clapp (Nantyglo), Bob Gould (Newport), Thomas Baker Jones (Newport), William David Phillips (Cardiff), Tom Williams (Pontypridd), George Morris (Swansea) This match was the first ever meeting between the two nations rugby union teams; and resulted in the first ever Welsh victory over international opposition.
FP), Andrew Ramsay Don-Wauchope (Cambridge University), Archibald Walker (West of Scotland), Robert Ainslie (Edinburgh Inst.
Although not a full international, the match between Wales and the North of England was important for the establishment of the Home Nations Championship the following season.
In 1881, Wales had suffered such a crushing defeat at the hands of the English that it their readiness for full international participation was brought into question.
This good form shown by the Welsh added to their victory over Ireland, gained for them a place in the International fixtures of the future.