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A unique Four Countries match
John GriffithsNovember 24, 2013
Can you find any information on the England & Wales versus Scotland & Ireland match held at Murrayfield in 1972? I know Mike Gibson scored three tries. Ian Monzari New Zealand
The Four Countries matches were popular anniversary occasions between 1923 (when the first one took place to mark the centenary of the game at Rugby School) and 1980 (when the WRU marked their first 100 years.)
The match at Murrayfield on October 14, 1972 was part of the SRU's centenary celebrations and resulted in a win for the home side by 30-21 with Mike Gibson, as you say, leading the scoring with a hat-trick of tries.
The details of that match are:
Scotland & Ireland: A R Brown; T O Grace, J N M Frame, J M Renwick, W C C Steele; C M H Gibson, J J Moloney; N Suddon, K W Kennedy, A B Carmichael, G L Brown, W J McBride, J F Slattery, P C Brown (captain), N A MacEwan
Scorers Tries: Gibson (3), Grace (2) Conversions: A R Brown (2) Penalty Goals: A R Brown (2)
England & Wales: J P R Williams; T G R Davies, A J L Lewis, R T E Bergiers, P M Knight; P Bennett, R Hopkins; C B Stevens, J V Pullin, D J Lloyd (captain), M G Roberts, P J Larter, J Taylor, T M Davies, A Neary
Replacement A G B Old for Bergiers
Scorers Tries: T G R Davies, Lloyd, Williams, Neary Conversion: Bennett Penalty Goal: Taylor
Referee G Domercq (France)
John Griffiths is a widely respected rugby historian and is the author of several sports books, a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and co-author of the IRB International Rugby Yearbook. He has provided insight for Scrum.com since 1999.
