The Calcutta Cup
Scotland and England played each other in the first international rugby match in 1871 at Raeburn Academy. The fixture, known as the Calcutta Cup, was an annual event by 1879.
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The Home Nations
In 1883, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales took part in the inaugural Home Nations championship, with England winning the opening tournament.
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England and Scotland share title
England and Scotland shared the title in 1886. It was the first time the championship had been shared and the first time England had not won it outright.
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Five tries in a match
George C Lindsay scored five tries for Scotland against Wales in 1887. It remains the record for tries by a player in a single match.
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England excluded as title shared
Ireland, Scotland and Wales shared the Home Nations title in 1888. It was a first shared title for Ireland and Wales. England were excluded from the championship due to their refusal to join the IRB.
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Ireland win first Home Nations title
Ireland won the Home Nations title in 1894 - they were the last of the Home Nations sides to win a title outright. Ireland would go on to win another championship in 1896.
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The Grand Slam is won
The final years of the Home Nations saw Wales win the first Grand Slam title in 1908 - they did it again in 1909
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The Five Nations
With the addition of France as a competing team, the first Five Nations was played in 1910. England claimed the title - only denied the Grand Slam by a 0-0 draw with Ireland.
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Championship suspended due to WWI
The outbreak of the Great War saw the Five Nations suspended until 1919 - though matches between international military XVs proved a welcome distraction for troops
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Grand Slam for Scotland
The first Grand Slam for Scotland saw Johnny Wallace score a try against every team, repeating the feat of England's Carson Catchyside a year earlier. It would be 58 years before anyone would do it again.
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France expelled from Five Nations
France were expelled from the Five Nations in 1932 due to accusations of professionalism in the French league as well as on-field violence and poor organisation.
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World War II stops the Championship
The outbreak of war again halted the tournament - there would be no championship played until 1947.
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France return to Five Nations
France were welcomed back to the championship in 1947. England and Wales shared what was the first title since the war.
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Ireland win first Grand Slam
Ireland won their first Grand Slam in 1948. They completed the clean sweep with a 6-3 victory over Wales at Ravenhill.
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First outright title for France
On their 30th attempt, France finally won their first outright title. Having shared the honour in 1954 and 1955, they clinched the championship with victory over Wales.
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French Grand Slam
The first Grand Slam for France - and the first Grand Slam for anyone since 1957. Victory over Wales in Cardiff clinched it for the French.
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1972 championship abandoned
The 1972 championship was not completed because Scotland and Wales refused to travel to Dublin due to the escalating violence in Northern Ireland.
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Five-way tie for championship
A unique tournament in 1973 saw all five teams share the title. Each side won two games and lost two.
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France concede no tries
France, led by captain Jacques Fouroux, strolled to the Grand Slam in 1977. They did not concede a single try in the Five Nations campaign.
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Golden era for Wales
The 1970s saw Wales win the Five Nations outright on five occasions, with Grand Slams in 1971, 1976 and 1978.
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