On the 26th January 1871, a meeting was called at the Pall Mall restaurant to form the rugby football union and agree on a set of rules which clubs would follow when playing each other. Representatives from 21 clubs met, resulting in the formation of the Rugby Football Union. An England team was then selected for the first ever international fixture between England and Scotland which took place at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh on 27th March 1871.

To mark the special milestone of 150 years of rugby union in England, we worked with England Rugby to create a heritage rose that would feature on a commemorative shirt to be worn in the opening Calcutta Cup game of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations, as well as featuring in other anniversary celebrations throughout the year.