Foster Cunliffe's England Rugby Union international cap awarded for his appearance versus Scotland at The Oval 23rd February 1874 and believed to be t

Foster Cunliffe's England Rugby Union international cap awarded for his appearance versus Scotland at The Oval 23rd February 1874 and believed to be the oldest England international cap ever to have been offered at auction, the red cap with wire work rose emblem This very early cap represents only the fourth match between England and Scotland in the history of international rugby. It was to be Foster Cunliffe's only international appearance for England. For the record, England won the game which, at this period were contested 20-a-side, by a margin of one goal. Cunliffe played as the equivalent of a modern day second row forward. His club affiliation was to the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich, where an Army rugby team had been formed as early as 1860. Foster Lionel Cunliffe is recorded as being born at Llanfyllin 20th April 1854 and that he died 15th April 1927 at Cuckfield just shy of his 73rd birthday. Provenance: By family descent, and thence acquired by the present vendor