Antique Scotland Rugby Cap with Australian Connection

Hugh Montgomerie Hamilton's Scotland Rugby cap, 1874-75, with 'J.C. Stewart Clothier' maker's label named in ink to 'H.M. Hamilton' with the thistle emblem and dates embossed in silver thread on the front. Superb condition, considering its' age. A very important Australian link with the earliest history of international competition. Provenance: The family, by descent. Hugh Montgomerie Hamilton (1854-1930), judge, was born at Parramatta, Son of Hugh Hamilton, a pastoralist from Ayrshire, Scotland, and his native-born wife Margaret Clunes, nee Innes, of Tomabil and Boyd stations, Forbes. Educated at Geneva, Edinburgh, and Marlborough College, England, in 1868-72, he became head of that college's modern side, captained its Rugby football team, and later played for the London club, Marlborough Nomads. Selected by England and Scotland to play in the same match, he elected to play for Scotland, which he represented in 1874 and 1875, with (Sir) William Milton, he introduced the 'Passing game' into Rugby Union. The first ever Rugby Union 'International' match was held between the England and Scotland national rugby Union teams. With no other recognised Rugby Union teams in Britain or the rest of the world, the encounter between Scotland and England represented the only such match that could be arranged, and would continue as such until 1875, when Ireland formed a national team.