Scotland Win Rugby Union 2021 Auld Alliance Trophy

Wales have deservedly won the 2021 Six Nations Championship rugby union competition this year. Helped on the way by Scotland's dramatic last minute win over France by 23-27 points in Paris. At the end of the game Scotland were presented with the Auld Alliance Trophy. This is a trophy in rugby union awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between France and Scotland.

The Trophy was first awarded in 2018, the centenary of the end of World War I. It  commemorates the French and Scottish rugby players who were killed during that conflict. In all, 30 Scottish and 22 French internationals were killed in the war. Including the captains of the two nations in the last matches played before the First World War. Eric Milroy of Scotland and Marcel Burgun of France. 

A crucial factor in the creation of the trophy was Patrick Caublot from Amiens Rugby Club in France, who worked alongside David Anderson QC, a great-great nephew of Eric Milroy, in promoting the concept to both the French Rugby Federation and Scottish Rugby. The trophy was manufactured by the craftsmen and silversmiths Thomas Lyte, noted as expert trophy manufacturers. It took 110 craft hours to create, is hand spun from hallmarked Sterling Silver and is 60cm in height. Engraved on the trophy is a band of poppies and cornflowers,

The name is a reference to the 13th century Auld Alliance. The Auld Alliance (Scots for "Old Alliance"; Scottish Gaelic: An Seann-chaidreachas) was an alliance made in 1295 between the kingdoms of Scotland and France. It was primarily a military and diplomatic accord. The uniting factor in this long-lasting association between the two countries, which was never actually officially revoked, was their numerous conflicts with England.

Image above: courtesy of Scottish Rugby.

Image below: courtesy of Thomas Lyte.