Centenary Quaich

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Lore & Background

The Centenary Quaich was introduced to mark the centenary of the first meeting between Ireland and Scotland in 1889. The contest for the Quaich has been notable for periods of dominance by one or other team. Scotland held the trophy for the first ten years of the competition, though Ireland won in 1990 and 1991, and there were two draws (1994 and 1998) where the holder retained it. On the other hand, Ireland have dominated from 2000 onwards, winning 19 out of 27 contests thereafter (with 3 draws). The current holders are Ireland who won an eighth successive contest after beating Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on 9 February 2025. The Quaich is one of a number of similar cups contested between nations as part of their international fixture list. Several of the other rivalry trophies involve either Ireland or Scotland. Other examples within the Six Nations Championship include the oldest such trophy, the Calcutta Cup (Scotland vs. England), the Millennium Trophy (England vs. Ireland), the Doddie Weir Cup between Scotland and Wales, and the Auld Alliance Trophy between France and Scotland. The Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy (France vs. Italy) is the only current rivalry trophy within the Six Nations Championship not involving at least one of the Scotland and Ireland teams.

In Their Own Story

The Centenary Quaich has been presented to the winners of the fixture since 1989. Scotland held the trophy for the first eleven years of the competition, including one draw where they retained the Quaich. Ireland have dominated from 2000 onwards, winning 23 out of 27 contests thereafter. The current holders are Ireland who won a ninth successive contest after beating Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on 14 March 2026. The Quaich is not contested in matches between the two sides outside the Six Nations. For example, the trophy was not awarded for pool matches between the two sides during the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups.

Reader's Guide

The Centenary Quaich is contested annually by Ireland and Scotland as part of the Six Nations Championship. A "Quaich" is a Gaelic drinking vessel and has been presented to the winners of the fixture since 1989. It was introduced to mark the centenary of the founding of the International Rugby Football Board (founded 1887, which later became World Rugby). Since the introduction of the cup, Ireland have won it twenty-three times while Scotland have won it fourteen times, with one drawn fixture. The Quaich is not contested in matches between the two sides outside the Six Nations. For example, the trophy was not awarded for pool matches between the two sides during the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups. The contest for the Quaich has been notable for periods of dominance by one or other team. Scotland held the trophy for the first eleven years of the competition, including one draw where they retained the Quaich. On the other hand, Ireland have dominated from 2000 onwards, winning 23 out of 27 contests thereafter. The current holders are Ireland who won a ninth successive contest after beating Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on 14 March 2026.

Did You Know?

• The Centenary Quaich was introduced to mark the centenary of the first meeting between Ireland and Scotland in 1889.
• Scotland did not hold the trophy for the entire first ten years; Ireland won in 1990 and 1991, and there were two draws (1994 and 1998) where the holder retained it.
• Ireland have dominated from 2000 onwards, winning 19 out of 27 contests thereafter (with 3 draws).
• The Quaich is not contested in matches between the two sides outside the Six Nations; for example, it was not awarded for pool matches during the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups.
• The Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy (France vs. Italy) is the only current rivalry trophy within the Six Nations Championship not involving at least one of the Scotland and Ireland teams.