History of rugby union matches between France and Scotland
The history of rugby union matches between France and Scotland dates back to 1910 when the two teams played against each other in Edinburgh. Scotland won the match 27–0. Since then there have been a total of 103 games played, resulting in 60 wins for France, 40 wins for Scotland and 3 draws, as of February 2024.
During rugby union's amateur era, the overall history of the fixture was relatively even – up to the end of the 1995 Rugby World Cup the sides had met 67 times with France winning 33 games and Scotland 31. Since then there has been a marked shift in favour of France, who have won 27 of the 36 matches between the teams since 1996.
Scotland and France play each other at least once a year, as both participate in the Six Nations Championship, and its predecessor competitions. In 2018 a new trophy, the Auld Alliance Trophy, was inaugurated to be presented to the winner of the Six Nations fixture each year.[1] Apart from their annual match, currently part of the Six Nations Championship, the teams have also met in five warm-up matches prior to the 2015, 2019 and 2023 World Cups, with France winning on three occasions and Scotland two.
Summary
[edit]Overall
[edit]| Details | Played | Won by France |
Won by Scotland |
Drawn | France points | Scotland points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In France | 50 | 37 | 12 | 1 | 841 | 568 |
| In Scotland | 50 | 21 | 28 | 1 | 668 | 740 |
| Neutral venue | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 93 | 48 |
| Overall | 103 | 60 | 40 | 3 | 1,602 | 1,356 |
Records
[edit]Note: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was or last set.
| Record | France | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
| Longest winning streak | 10 (17 March 2007 – 13 March 2016) | 5 (21 February 1925 – 1 January 1930) |
| Largest points for | ||
| Home | 47 (15 March 1997) | 32 (11 February 2018) |
| Away | 51 (25 October 2003) | 36 (10 April 1999) |
| Largest winning margin | ||
| Home | 35 (23 February 2003) | 28 (20 January 1912) |
| Away | 42 (25 October 2003) | 18 (1 January 1913) |
Breakdown
[edit]| Team | Wins | W% |
|---|---|---|
 France
|
34 | 49.28 |
 Scotland
|
33 | 47.83 |
| Draws | 2 | — |
| Total | 69 | |
At the Rugby World Cup (RWC), the two teams have played each other on three occasions: the first edition (1987) in Pool 4, hosted by New Zealand; the first (and thus far only) RWC played in South Africa (1995); and finally the 2003 Rugby World Cup played in Australia. The first encounter, in 1987, was a draw (20–20). And in fact was the only draw for that RWC. The second RWC encounter was a close game, with France coming out victorious, 22–19. The third and final encounter was in the 2003 RWC. However, unlike the previous two fixtures, the result was a blowout. France won by forty-two points and kept Scotland try-less. All fixtures were played in the pool stage of the tournament. In all cases France would eventuate into the semi-finals of the tournament. In total France scored ninety-three points against Scotland at the RWC; Scotland forty-eight.
In the Five Nations Championship (1910–1999), France and Scotland played on sixty-nine occasions, France edging the two teams' encounters thirty-four to thirty-three (two matches being drawn). Overall in these matches, France scored 756 points, and Scotland 819.
In the Six Nations Championship (2000–present), the two sides have met twenty-five times. France have won the duel twenty times, with Scotland only having won against France five times in the competition. In these matches, France have scored 504 points; Scotland 330.
Starting in 2015 France and Scotland have played a one- or two-test warm-up fixture in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup. With the exception of the first meeting in 2019 all encounters have been very close results. However France hold the lead again in these instances, having won three of the five meetings.
| Team | Wins | W% |
|---|---|---|
 France
|
20 | 80 |
| Scotland
|
5 | 20 |
| Draws | — | |
| Total | 25 | |
Results
[edit]The matches played between France and Scotland are:[2]
| No. | Date | Venue | Score | Winner | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 January 1910 | Inverleith, Edinburgh | 27–0 | Scotland
|
1910 Five Nations Championship |
| 2 | 2 January 1911 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 16–15 |  France
|
1911 Five Nations Championship |
| 3 | 20 January 1912 | Inverleith, Edinburgh | 31–3 | Scotland
|
1912 Five Nations Championship |
| 4 | 1 January 1913 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 3–21 | Scotland
|
1913 Five Nations Championship |
| 5 | 1 January 1920 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 0–5 | Scotland
|
1920 Five Nations Championship[a] |
| 6 | 22 January 1921 | Inverleith, Edinburgh | 0–3 | France
|
1921 Five Nations Championship |
| 7 | 2 January 1922 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 3–3 | draw | 1922 Five Nations Championship |
| 8 | 20 January 1923[5] | Inverleith, Edinburgh | 16–3 | Scotland
|
1923 Five Nations Championship |
| 9 | 1 January 1924 | Stade Pershing, Vincennes | 12–10 | France
|
1924 Five Nations Championship |
| 10 | 21 February 1925 | Inverleith, Edinburgh | 25–4 | Scotland
|
1925 Five Nations Championship |
| 11 | 2 January 1926 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 6–20 | Scotland
|
1926 Five Nations Championship |
| 12 | 22 January 1927 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 23–6 | Scotland
|
1927 Five Nations Championship |
| 13 | 2 January 1928 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 6–15 | Scotland
|
1928 Five Nations Championship |
| 14 | 19 January 1929 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 6–3 | Scotland
|
1929 Five Nations Championship |
| 15 | 1 January 1930 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 7–3 | France
|
1930 Five Nations Championship |
| 16 | 24 January 1931 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 6–4 | Scotland
|
1931 Five Nations Championship |
| 17 | 1 January 1947 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 8–3 | France
|
1947 Five Nations Championship |
| 18 | 21 February 1948 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 9–8 | Scotland
|
1948 Five Nations Championship |
| 19 | 15 January 1949 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 0–8 | Scotland
|
1949 Five Nations Championship |
| 20 | 14 January 1950 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 8–5 | Scotland
|
1950 Five Nations Championship |
| 21 | 13 January 1951 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 14–12 | France
|
1951 Five Nations Championship |
| 22 | 12 January 1952 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 11–13 | France
|
1952 Five Nations Championship |
| 23 | 10 January 1953 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 11–5 | France
|
1953 Five Nations Championship |
| 24 | 9 January 1954 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 0–3 | France
|
1954 Five Nations Championship |
| 25 | 8 January 1955 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 15–0 | France
|
1955 Five Nations Championship |
| 26 | 14 January 1956 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 12–0 | Scotland
|
1956 Five Nations Championship |
| 27 | 12 January 1957 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 0–6 | Scotland
|
1957 Five Nations Championship |
| 28 | 11 January 1958 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 11–9 | Scotland
|
1958 Five Nations Championship |
| 29 | 10 January 1959 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 9–0 | France
|
1959 Five Nations Championship |
| 30 | 9 January 1960 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 11–13 | France
|
1960 Five Nations Championship |
| 31 | 7 January 1961 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 11–0 | France
|
1961 Five Nations Championship |
| 32 | 13 January 1962 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 3–11 | France
|
1962 Five Nations Championship |
| 33 | 12 January 1963 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 6–11 | Scotland
|
1963 Five Nations Championship |
| 34 | 4 January 1964 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 10–0 | Scotland
|
1964 Five Nations Championship |
| 35 | 9 January 1965 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 16–8 | France
|
1965 Five Nations Championship |
| 36 | 15 January 1966 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 3–3 | draw | 1966 Five Nations Championship |
| 37 | 14 January 1967 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 8–9 | Scotland
|
1967 Five Nations Championship |
| 38 | 13 January 1968 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 6–8 | France
|
1968 Five Nations Championship |
| 39 | 11 January 1969 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 3–6 | Scotland
|
1969 Five Nations Championship |
| 40 | 10 January 1970 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 9–11 | France
|
1970 Five Nations Championship |
| 41 | 16 January 1971 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 13–8 | France
|
1971 Five Nations Championship |
| 42 | 15 January 1972 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 20–9 | Scotland
|
1972 Five Nations Championship |
| 43 | 13 January 1973 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 16–13 | France
|
1973 Five Nations Championship |
| 44 | 16 March 1974 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 19–6 | Scotland
|
1974 Five Nations Championship |
| 45 | 15 February 1975 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 10–9 | France
|
1975 Five Nations Championship |
| 46 | 10 January 1976 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 6–13 | France
|
1976 Five Nations Championship |
| 47 | 5 March 1977 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 23–3 | France
|
1977 Five Nations Championship |
| 48 | 4 February 1978 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 16–19 | France
|
1978 Five Nations Championship |
| 49 | 17 March 1979 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 21–17 | France
|
1979 Five Nations Championship |
| 50 | 16 February 1980 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 22–14 | Scotland
|
1980 Five Nations Championship |
| 51 | 17 January 1981 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 16–9 | France
|
1981 Five Nations Championship |
| 52 | 6 March 1982 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 16–7 | Scotland
|
1982 Five Nations Championship |
| 53 | 5 February 1983 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 19–15 | France
|
1983 Five Nations Championship |
| 54 | 17 March 1984 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 21–12 | Scotland
|
1984 Five Nations Championship |
| 55 | 16 February 1985 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 11–3 | France
|
1985 Five Nations Championship |
| 56 | 18 January 1986 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 18–17 | Scotland
|
1986 Five Nations Championship |
| 57 | 7 March 1987 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 28–22 | France
|
1987 Five Nations Championship |
| 58 | 23 May 1987 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch (New Zealand) | 20–20 | draw | 1987 Rugby World Cup |
| 59 | 6 February 1988 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 23–12 | Scotland
|
1988 Five Nations Championship |
| 60 | 18 March 1989 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 19–3 | France
|
1989 Five Nations Championship |
| 61 | 17 February 1990 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 21–0 | Scotland
|
1990 Five Nations Championship |
| 62 | 19 January 1991 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 15–9 | France
|
1991 Five Nations Championship |
| 63 | 7 March 1992 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 10–6 | Scotland
|
1992 Five Nations Championship |
| 64 | 6 February 1993 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 11–3 | France
|
1993 Five Nations Championship |
| 65 | 19 March 1994 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 12–20 | France
|
1994 Five Nations Championship |
| 66 | 18 February 1995 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 21–23 | Scotland
|
1995 Five Nations Championship |
| 67 | 3 June 1995 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (South Africa) | 22–19 | France
|
1995 Rugby World Cup |
| 68 | 3 February 1996 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 19–14 | Scotland
|
1996 Five Nations Championship |
| 69 | 15 March 1997 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 47–20 | France
|
1997 Five Nations Championship |
| 70 | 21 February 1998 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 16–51 | France
|
1998 Five Nations Championship |
| 71 | 10 April 1999 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 22–36 | Scotland
|
1999 Five Nations Championship |
| 72 | 4 March 2000 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 16–28 | France
|
2000 Six Nations Championship |
| 73 | 4 February 2001 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 16–6 | France
|
2001 Six Nations Championship |
| 74 | 22 March 2002 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 10–22 | France
|
2002 Six Nations Championship |
| 75 | 23 February 2003 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 38–3 | France
|
2003 Six Nations Championship |
| 76 | 25 October 2003 | Stadium Australia, Sydney (Australia) | 51–9 | France
|
2003 Rugby World Cup |
| 77 | 21 March 2004 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 0–31 | France
|
2004 Six Nations Championship |
| 78 | 5 March 2005 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 16–9 | France
|
2005 Six Nations Championship |
| 79 | 5 February 2006 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 20–16 | Scotland
|
2006 Six Nations Championship |
| 80 | 17 March 2007 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 46–19 | France
|
2007 Six Nations Championship |
| 81 | 3 February 2008 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 6–27 | France
|
2008 Six Nations Championship |
| 82 | 14 February 2009 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 22–13 | France
|
2009 Six Nations Championship |
| 83 | 7 February 2010 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 9–18 | France
|
2010 Six Nations Championship |
| 84 | 5 February 2011 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 34–21 | France
|
2011 Six Nations Championship |
| 85 | 26 February 2012 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 17–23 | France
|
2012 Six Nations Championship |
| 86 | 16 March 2013 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 23–16 | France
|
2013 Six Nations Championship |
| 87 | 8 March 2014 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 17–19 | France
|
2014 Six Nations Championship |
| 88 | 7 February 2015 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 15–8 | France
|
2015 Six Nations Championship |
| 89 | 5 September 2015 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 19–16 | France
|
2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up match |
| 90 | 13 March 2016 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 29–18 | Scotland
|
2016 Six Nations Championship |
| 91 | 12 February 2017 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 22–16 | France
|
2017 Six Nations Championship |
| 92 | 11 February 2018 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 32–26 | Scotland
|
2018 Six Nations Championship |
| 93 | 23 February 2019 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 27–10 | France
|
2019 Six Nations Championship |
| 94 | 17 August 2019 | Allianz Riviera, Nice | 32–3 | France
|
2019 Rugby World Cup warm-up match |
| 95 | 24 August 2019 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 17–14 | Scotland
| |
| 96 | 8 March 2020 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 28–17 | Scotland
|
2020 Six Nations Championship |
| 97 | 22 November 2020 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 15–22 | France
|
Autumn Nations Cup |
| 98 | 26 March 2021 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 23–27 | Scotland
|
2021 Six Nations Championship |
| 99 | 26 February 2022 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 17–36 | France
|
2022 Six Nations Championship |
| 100 | 26 February 2023 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 32–21 | France
|
2023 Six Nations Championship |
| 101 | 5 August 2023 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 25–21 | Scotland
|
2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up match |
| 102 | 12 August 2023 | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne | 30–27 | France
| |
| 103 | 10 February 2024 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | 16–20 | France
|
2024 Six Nations Championship |
| 104 | 15 March 2025 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 2025 Six Nations Championship |
Notes
[edit]- ^ The 1920 Five Nations Championship was known in France as "Le match des borgnes" (The one-eyed match) because five players between the two sides had lost an eye in World War I.[3][4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Auld Alliance Trophy unveiled". Scottish Rugby Union. 9 February 2018. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- ^ "Games played between Scotland and France". Rugby Data. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ Richards, Huw (24 February 2012). "Rewind: A Troubled Year". ESPNscrum. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ Schofield, Daniel (1 January 2020). "A century of mystery shrouds 'match of the one-eyed'". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020.
- ^ International Rugby (1923), British Pathé (Scotland v France, silent video footage)