The 132nd edition of the Calcutta Cup takes center stage this Saturday as England hosts Scotland at Twickenham Stadium for the 2025 Six Nations Championships. With Scotland aiming to retain the Cup for the fifth consecutive year, this clash carries significant historical weight.
Established back in 1879, the Calcutta Cup isn't just any trophy—it's awarded to the victor of the fierce England versus Scotland rivalry within the Six Nations. Heading to this match, both teams have seen their share of ups and downs. Presently, England sits in third place with two bonus points, just edging out Scotland, which holds one bonus point, as both teams have recorded one win each so far.
Fans are eager to tune in this weekend as Scotland, coming off a hefty 32-18 loss to Ireland at Murrayfield, looks to bounce back against the hosts, who injected some life back to their campaign with a narrow 26-25 victory over France at Twickenham just weeks ago.
The match kicks off at 4:55 p.m. GMT on February 22, 2025, and is accessible to viewers across the U.K. on ITV 1, along with being streamed live on ITVX. This provides fans not only with the opportunity to witness the event live but to be part of rugby history.
According to Tom's Guide, today's live stream of England versus Scotland is dubbed the "hottest ticket in town." This thrill is compounded by Scotland's recent resurgence in form against the English side, which, over the years, turned from one-sided dominance to more competitive fixtures. Once enjoying six consecutive wins against Scotland from 2000 to 2020, England now finds itself battling against the tides, with Scotland dominating recent encounters. Ending the dry spell with another victory against England could solidify Scotland’s legacy as they chase their longest winning run since the inception of the Calcutta Cup.
Matchday updates, as reported, show England has made tactical adjustments, withdrawing second-row player George Martin due to injury. Ted Hill will step up to cover this loss. Martin had been the only previous change to the lineup following their victory against France, meaning the key tandem of Fin Smith at fly-half and Marcus Smith at fullback would continue to lead the attack for England.
For Scotland, head coach Gregor Townsend has also implemented changes—Finn Russell, who was under scrutiny after sustaining injury during the Ireland game, has been cleared to play. Meanwhile, Darcy Graham will not participate, leaving Kyle Rowe to take his position on the wing. Additional adjustments include prop Pierre Schoeman's entry over Rory Sutherland and Jamie Ritchie over Matt Fagerson. Among these lineup shuffles, the spotlight is on Duhan van der Merwe, Scotland's lead try-scorer, alongside prolific teammate Huw Jones, who’s poised to break records against England.
The stakes are high for Townsend, who, as head coach, has only faced defeat once against England since taking the role, having secured five wins and one draw. Reflecting back to his time as a player from 1993 to 2003, Townsend only managed one win at this prestigious fixture—a 19-13 victory denying previous legends like Martin Johnson and Jonny Wilkinson their coveted Grand Slam.
For those eager to experience the drama and excitement of the 2025 Six Nations Championship—including the highly anticipated battle between England and Scotland—streaming options are available with many opportunities to watch for free. The match will be available to viewers not only on ITV but also across platforms like RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play for fans tuning in from Ireland.
For viewers abroad, options exist to bypass geographical restrictions through VPNs, allowing fans to experience the thrill of the match as if they were back home. Popular choices include NordVPN, which facilitates secure streaming options without compromising connection speed.
Overall, rugby fans worldwide know this matchup of historic rivalry is not to be missed. The richness of the game's history combined with the current stakes ensures this encounter will resonate through the annals of rugby lore.