The age-old rivalry between two of Scotland’s biggest rugby clubs got a new look last week.
On Monday, July 21, the Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby unveiled a new logo for the 1872 Cup, the derby between the two sides based on their league matches in the United Rugby Championship.
According to a joint press release from the two clubs, the new design incorporates “a balance between tradition and innovation, ensuring the logo remains instantly recognisable to long-time fans while appealing to new audiences.” It is also more adaptable across digital and print platforms “for a stronger and more unified brand presence.”
The new logo features a cleaner and more dynamic design that resonates with today’s audiences. While the look has evolved, the essence of the 1872 Cup remains at its heart, honouring its proud history while embracing the future of the game.
— Glasgow Warriors/Edinburgh Rugby press release
The previous 1872 Cup logo featured a silhouette of the trophy sitting on a wide line, with “1872” on the left side and “CUP” on the right side.
The trophy that would eventually become the 1872 Cup was first presented in 1995 to the winner of the Scottish Inter-District Championship, which was contested by the four professional rugby union teams in Scotland. After a pair of team mergers in the late 1990s and a new sponsor, the trophy became known as the Inter-City Cup and was contested between Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors.
The trophy wasn’t awarded for a few years in the mid-2000s, but was revived in 2007 and renamed the 1872 Cup. The name references the year of the first known rugby union match between teams from Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Since 2021-22, the aggregate score of the two United Rugby Championship matches between Edinburgh and Glasgow has determined the winner of the 1872 Cup. Between 2017 and 2021, a different league format meant the teams played each other three times a season, so the 1872 Cup became a best-of-three series in those years.
Since the trophy was revived, Glasgow Warriors have won it 11 times, including in the last three seasons. Edinburgh Rugby has won it seven times.
The 1872 Cup matches for the 2025-26 United Rugby Championship season are scheduled for Hampden Park in Glasgow on December 20, 2025, and for Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on December 27.
