In anticipation of the upcoming preseason football opener between the Toronto Varsity Blues and McGill Redbirds on Aug. 22, 2025, two of the oldest football teams in the world, we dug up a game recap of the first-ever meeting between these historic rivals, a two-try shutout victory by McGill over U of T on Oct. 22, 1881 played on the front campus in Toronto. Known more commonly before 1931 by the name "Rugby" or "Rugby Football", this new sport allowed for carrying the ball in a player's hands, which differed from "Association Football", the early name for soccer, where use of hands was prohibited. The McGill football club was founded in 1872, while Toronto began play in 1877. Here is an article reprinted from The Varsity, the University of Toronto student newspaper, published on Oct. 28, 1881. This article makes reference to an "open formation" -- which differs from the closed, circular formation used in rugby -- a modern-day style of play introduced in 1881 where both teams were required to lineup across from each other to put the ball into play. -- Earl Zukerman, McGill Sports Info Office

'VARSITY SPORT
 
The weather for our game with McGill was all that could be desired ; the crowd of spectators, consequently, was larger than has attended at any of our previous matches. The arrangements, however, for their reception were very inadequate, and the committee found it impossible to keep the onlookers outside the touch and goal lines. This continual crowding into the field proved very annoying to the players, to say nothing of the danger to the spectators themselves. If, at future matches, a rope should be run round the whole field at a distance of 10 or 12 paces from the lines, all trouble from the crowd would be obviated. However, in spite of this annoyance, everyone, including a large number of ladies who were present, seemed to enjoy the game thoroughly, and testified to their hearty interest by the applause with which they greeted their favorites on either side.
 
It is very gratifying to see the interest which the Toronto people are beginning to take in Football, and to hear less and less of that ignorant rant against the game which used to be so familiar. There is more perseverance, pluck, judgment and skill required in Rugby Union than many dream of, and to attempt to frown down the game which is best suited to our character, our college terms, and our climate, is to work the work of Sisyphus, " in vain, in vain." Now to the match.
 
The names of the two teams, with their weights, are as follows :
 
TORONTO UNIVERSITY.
 
Forwards.
Campbell, C. G. (captain) 150
Blake, E. W. H. 164
Macdougald, A.V. K. 163
Grierson, J. F. 162
Haig, A. 160
Morphy, Oliver 157
Duggan, G. H. 150
Clarke, L. J 150
Campbell, A. H. 145
Caven, J. 130
 
Quarter-Backs.
Lindsey, G. G. S. 148
McKay. E. 139
 
Half-Backs.
George, W. K. 165
Keefer, F. H. 145
 
Backs.
Helmcken, H. D. 160
==================
Average weight 153
 
 
M'GILL UNIVERSITY.
 
Forwards.
Hislop, H. 165
Cockfield, H. 162
Rogers, J. 155
Wright, G. 154
Hague, H. 148
Street, H. 148
Smith, R. 145
Smith, A. 140
Foster, P. 135
 
Quarter-Backs.
Murray, W. L. 128
Stirling, R. 125
 
Half-Backs.
Lowe, A. 165
Thomas, W., (captain) 152
 
Backs.
Haythorne, T. 158
Hamilton, H. 135
==================
Average weight 148
 
These figures give an average of five pounds per man to the home team.
 
The ball was kicked off by Toronto at 3 o'clock sharp. Mr. Campbell, who expected that McGill would play the open formation, lined his men out accordingly, and consequently lost considerable ground at first. On discovering his mistake he closed them in, and then began an obstinate struggle, which lasted communi marte until half-time was called. The ball for the first 10 or 15 minutes kept unpleasantly near our goal line, but it soon passed into touch, and on being thrown out by McGill, Helmcken secured it and kicked it up to midfield; it was immediately returned, and the struggle recommenced near the goal line.
 
Steady play on the part of our forwards, and dashes by McKay, Keefer, and Lindsey, gradually worked the game back to the middle of the field, and on toward the McGill goal. McGill. now began to put forth tremendous efforts — Lowe, Hague, and Hislop showing well to the fore. At last Hague seizes the ball, and makes a splendid break for the Toronto goal. As he passes one after another of our men, the cheers from the crowd rise higher and higher, until he falls a prey to George. A kick from Keefer soon after returns the ball well up to the McGill line.
 
About this time McGill claimed a foul, on the ground that the ball cannot be touched unless it is six feet from the scrimmage. The decision was given against them, and play resumed. After a little, Helmcken secures the ball and attempts to run, but the McGill men are too quick for him, and he is at once collared. Everywhere the herculean efforts of Duggan, Blake, Campbell, and Morphy, well seconded by their quarter-backs Lindsey and McKay, were checked by the superior quickness of McGill. It may be said of them as of the Toronto men in their recent match with the Britannias, that there was always a man ready where he was most needed, as if he sprang from the ground.
 
Towards the end of half-time a good kick by Hamilton (McGill) gave the ball into Hague's clutches, but his run, though capital, was more than counterbalanced by Stirling, who got half way up the field before he was hauled down.
 
At half time the ball was about midfield. It would have been difficult to say at this time which side had had the best of it ; perhaps the advantage, if any, was with McGill.  
 
The second half-time, however, set aside all doubt. When time was called Mr. Thomas, the McGill captain, kicked off, driving the ball well up to our goal line. Helmcken seized the ball and started to run instead of kicking. Instantly the ball is knocked from his hand and touched down by Stilling. The try at goal failed ; but so quick were the McGill men that they secured a second touch down before our backs could reach the ball. This try was likewise a failure, and the game was continued.
 
For the rest of the time, considering the demoralizing effect of two tries to nothing, our men played a determined, plucky game, which gave McGill all they could do to withstand, and brought the play steadily down on their goal line. Lindsey and McKay, for us ; Thomas, Lowe, and Hague, for McGill, did splendid work, and at last, the ball is worked so far down the field that Blake, by bursting through the scrimmage, and dribbling the ball to within a yard of the line, was enabled, very cleverly, to secure a touch down.

The McGill men claim a foul. Mr. Leonard, one of the umpires, decided for Toronto ; Mr. Mitchell, the other umpire, was undecided, and the referee had not seen it. The result was, that after considerable wrangling, the scrimmage was renewed, and carried by Toronto, McGill touching down in self-defence.

This scrimmage showed that, when playing well together, we were more than a match for McGill in the scrimmages, but this unanimity, alas!, was only shown at rare intervals. The play from this time out was fast and furious — the enthusiasm of the lookers-on keeping pace with the excitement of the game, which perhaps reached its climax when Hague, by one of his characteristic runs, gets halfway up the field, then passes to Thomas, who passes to another, who in turn returns the ball to Thomas. This was, I think, the prettiest piece of play in the game, and seemed to thrill the spectators with an equal excitement to that invariably raised by the splendid runs of Keefer. McKay, and Murray.
 
Soon after this combined run, Lindsey gets the ball, and works it across the field. On being collared, a scrimmage ensues, followed by a good run by George, who passes to Hague, when collared by Lowe. At this juncture A. Campbell makes a good drop for goal; the ball, however, fell short, and McGill are compelled to touch down for safety.
 
The ball is brought out and kicked, returned by Toronto, and again sent back by McGill, passing thus backward and forward for some time, until Murray gets it and makes a good run. Time was presently called just after a brilliant run by Hague, which brought the ball close down on the McGill line ; the match thus resulting in favor of the visitors by two tries.
 
I have given such a description of the match as limited space will allow, but I cannot close without making a few further remarks, which I hope will be taken by the club not as the carpings of a critic, but as suggestions from one who has their best interest at heart.
 
Last Saturday's match was but a repetition of the old, old story. Your failure was due to lack of unanimity, resulting from want of practice together, and to insufficient kicking on the part of some of your backs ; some only, I say, for had it not been for several judicious kicks on the part of Keefer, your defeat would have probably been worse than it was. Another result of want of practice was an absence of confidence in one another, and a consequent striving after individual play.
 
I might point to six or eight men who were always appearing conspicuously on the field. In a well trained fifteen this should not be. All should be well to the fore, working together with perfect unanimity and confidence. Another bad feature was the wildness of the scrimmages ; some entered them from the sides, some did not shove with their shoulders, while others lurked on the outer edge, fishing for the ball with their feet; the result of which was, that when they were successful in getting it out they only gave it into the hands of their opponents' backs, while their own men were still locked in the scrimmage.
 
I feel that I need make no apology for these strictures. A long connection with the club in its earliest struggles for existence, and in the first proud moments of its earliest victories, is my warrant for making them.
 
When the facts in connection with Mr. Blake's touch-down for Toronto University against McGill are taken into consideration, it stems rather hard on the home team that the decision should have been what it was.
 
One of the umpires, Mr. Leonard, said that Mr. Blake touched the ball down ; the other umpire was at first undecided, not having seen this move of Mr. Blake's, his attention being attracted by Mr. Thomas, who claimed to have touched down for his side. When the matter was left to the referee, he had not seen it. Now what we claim is, that if the referee didn't see it, the decision of the only umpire who was willing to say he was positive should have been abided by instead of referring the dispute to the two captains. If this course had been pursued, a very different result might have been chronicled.
 
Further, when McGill kicked from the first touch-down from their side, the ball went into the crowd, and Keefer, who was far ahead of all running to touch-down, came in contact with a young lady, and so was prevented from getting at the ball first. Allowing our touch-down to McGill, and the disputed point to Toronto, the game would have been a draw, plus the chance of Toronto's kicking a goal.
:
:
:
Canvas jackets are much preferable to jerseys for Rugby Football. They afford no possibility of catching at the neck, and a hold upon the cloth itself is not to be had ; a man in a canvas suit must be embraced to be held.
 
The following are the remainder of the Rules binding competitors for the Montreal Challenge Cup:
 
Rule 111. — The club holding the Cup shall be obliged to play for it again, if challenged, within two weeks from the date of any match in which they win it; unless play is rendered impossible by reason of snow or hard frost, or unless they have a club engaged for a match on the day named by the challenging club ; in which case they must play within one week from the day named ; but shall always be entitled to an interval of two weeks between each match for the cup. In default of their not playing when challenged, they shall forfeit the Cup to the challenging club.
 
Rule IV. — All matches for the Cup shall be played upon the grounds of the club holding it, unless otherwise arranged between the competing clubs.
 
Rule V. — Any club winning the Cup shall be required to give a guarantee, satisfactory to the committee of the Montreal Foot-ball Club, for its safe keeping and return, before they shall be entitled to receive it.
 
Rule VI. — Within four days from the date of the match, the Cup shall be delivered to the winners, provided the required guarantee has been given.
 
Rule VII. — No club can be compelled to play the same club for the Cup more than twice in any one season ; the season to be computed from the beginning of the year.
 
Rule VIII. — In the event of any dispute with regard to the competition or ownership of the Cup, the matter shall be referred to two arbitrators, one named by each of the two disputing clubs ; which arbitrators shall name a third, and the decision of the majority shall be final.
 
Rule IX. — The Cup shall revert to the original owners, the Montreal Foot-ball Club, at the expiration of five years, reckoning from the 1st September, 1881 ; to be again put up for competition at their option
 
LINK TO ORIGINAL SOURCE ARTICLE