Bottle Match

The Bottle Match

The Bottle Trophy, showing the CSM crest
Royal School of Mines (RSM) Camborne School of Mines (CSM)
Sport	Rugby Union (Primary), Multi-sport
Location	London and Penryn
First meeting	16 December 1902
Trophy	The Bottle (Rugby) Wardell Armstrong Trophy (Overall)
Statistics
Meetings total	111 (recorded)
All-time series	RSM leads (36 recorded wins)

The Bottle Match is a historic annual varsity match held every February between the Royal School of Mines (RSM) of Imperial College London and the Camborne School of Mines (CSM) of the University of Exeter. Traditionally played on the third weekend of the month, the rivalry dates back to 16 December 1902, when the first recorded match between the two mining schools took place. ^[1]

It is widely considered the second-oldest rugby varsity match in the world, following only The Varsity Match between Oxford and Cambridge universities. ^[2] While the centerpiece of the rivalry is the men's rugby union match, the event has expanded into a multi-sport weekend encompassing football, hockey, squash, golf, netball, and lacrosse.

History

Origins and Early Years

The competition originated as a rugby union match to determine dominance between the UK's two premier mining schools. Originally known as The Miners Cup, the rivalry reflects a long-standing sporting divide between the London-based Royal School of Mines (RSM) and the Cornish Camborne School of Mines (CSM). ^[3] The first recorded game was a 15-a-side rugby match on 16 December 1902 in London that resulted in an "honourable draw." ^[4] The match was suspended for seven years during World War I, with play eventually resuming in 1921 for what was dubbed the "Rugby Revival." ^[5]

The Bottle and "Mascot Warfare"

The event earned its modern name in 1926 following a famous incident where a group of RSM students "acquired" a three-foot-tall tin advertising bottle from the top of a Bass-Charrington brewery lorry in London. The students decorated the tin bottle with the crests of both mining schools and designated it the official trophy. ^[6]

This spirit of "mascot warfare" became a hallmark of the rivalry for decades. In 1966, the RSM abducted the CSM’s beloved mascot, a teddy bear named Colonel George (named after a former Principal of the school), who was famously never returned. ^[5] In a notable retaliatory incident, CSM students "borrowed" the RSM's symbolic Davy Lamp, returning it to the London students filled with concrete and epoxy resin to ensure it could never be lit again. ^[6] In 2008, the rivalry gained national attention following a BBC report on traditional match-day chants; while controversial to outside observers, the exchange was defended by alumni as a long-standing element of the schools' shared heritage. ^[3]

Institutional Shifts and Scheduling

Following a second seven-year suspension during World War II (1939–1945), the logistics of the match shifted to accommodate changing academic calendars. Prior to the war, matches were traditionally held in December on the Friday before Christmas. In the post-war era, the fixture moved to the third Saturday in March, before shifting again in the 1980s to its current slot on the third Saturday in February. ^[5]

Venues have also evolved alongside institutional restructuring. Historically, London-hosted games were played at Richmond Park. While the Cornish leg of the rotation was long held in Camborne, the incorporation of the Camborne School of Mines into the University of Exeter and its subsequent relocation to the Penryn Campus resulted in the games moving to Penryn Rugby Club. ^[7] Since 2020, the weekend has expanded into a multi-sport varsity event, where the Wardell Armstrong Trophy is awarded to the school with the most cumulative points across all sports, including football, hockey, and netball, though the "Bottle" remains the exclusive prize for the rugby union match. ^[7]

Traditions and Trophies

The Bottle Match Trophy, Showing the RSM Crest

The Bottle Match is defined by several long-standing traditions that reflect the unique identity and "mining grit" of the two schools. The rivalry is historically known for its high level of physical play and a boisterous atmosphere that draws alumni from across the globe, particularly from major mining hubs in Australia and South Africa.

A prominent modern tradition held by the Camborne School of Mines involves "Freshman Haircuts." In the week leading up to the fixture, rugby freshmen undergo outlandish and intentionally poorly executed haircuts, such as reverse-mohawks, monk-style fringes, and "Friar Tuck" shaves. While part of the initiation into the rivalry, the tradition has evolved into a significant fundraising drive for the mental health charity Sport in Mind. ^[8]

Culturally, the trophy itself is protected by a standard of "Mascotry Protection." Unlike many other university mascots in the United Kingdom, which are often subject to "liberation" or theft by rival colleges, the Bottle is traditionally considered off-limits. Its significance to the mining community is such that it is treated as a sacred object within the RSM and CSM unions, and any interference with the trophy by outside parties is strictly discouraged.

Trophies

Name	Sport/Event	Description	History / Donor
The Bottle	Rugby Union (Men)	The primary trophy; a 3-ft tin advertising bottle traditionally housed in the Union Bar of the holding institution. Features the crests of both CSM and RSM.	Acquired from a Bass lorry in 1926.
Sharpley Cup	Field Hockey (Men)	A silver cup awarded to the winner of the men's hockey match.	Presented by J.E. Sharpley (RSM) in the 1950s.
Golders Cup	Field Hockey (Women)	A silver cup awarded to the winner of the women's hockey match.	Presented by Golder Associates in the 1990s.
Commemorative Tankards	Rugby Union (Men)	Individual tankards presented to each member of the winning rugby side.	Supported by the Mining Journal; tradition dates to the 1950s. [6]

Rugby Results (Full Record)

Winners are highlighted:  RSM  (Black/Gold) or  CSM  (Blue/White).

Match	Year	Winner	Score	Venue	RSM Wins	CSM Wins	Draws
1	1902	Draw	—	London	0	0	1
1903–1907: Results missing (Matches 2–6)
7	1908	Draw	11–11 [9]	London	0	0	2
1909–1910: Results missing (Matches 8–9)
10	1911	RSM	3–0 [10]	London	1	0	2
1912–1913: Results missing (Matches 11–12)
Not played due to World War I (1914–1920: 7-year suspension of play)
13	1921	RSM	13–5 [9]	Richmond Park	2	0	2
1922–1924: Results missing (Matches 14–16)
17	1925	RSM	11–3 [11]	London	3	0	2
18	1926	Draw	8–8 [12]	London	3	0	3
19	1927	CSM	13–3 [13]	Cornwall	3	1	3
20	1928	RSM	11–0 [14]	London	4	1	3
1929–1930: Results missing (Matches 21–22)
23	1931	RSM	17–0 [15]	London	5	1	3
24	1932	RSM	20–8	Cornwall	6	1	3
1933–1935: Results missing (Matches 25–27)
28	1936	Draw	6–6 [16]	London	6	1	4
1937: Result missing (Match 29)
30	1938	RSM	20–8	Cornwall	7	1	4
Not played due to World War II (1939–1945: 7-year suspension of play)
31	1946	CSM	—	—	7	2	4
32	1947	RSM	8–5	—	8	2	4
33	1948	RSM	10–8 [17]	—	9	2	4
34	1949	CSM	15–0 [18]	London	9	3	4
35	1950	CSM [19]	—	London	9	4	4
36	1951	CSM	—	—	9	5	4
37	1952	CSM	—	—	9	6	4
38	1953	CSM	—	—	9	7	4
39	1954	CSM	—	—	9	8	4
40	1955	RSM	3–0	—	10	8	4
41	1956	RSM	12–3 [20]	London	11	8	4
42	1957	Draw	6–6 [21]	—	11	8	5
43	1958	RSM	— [22]	—	12	8	5
44	1959	CSM	— [22]	London	12	9	5
45	1960	CSM	6–3 [22]	Cornwall	12	10	5
46	1961	CSM	8–0 [22]	London	12	11	5
47	1962	CSM	— [22]	—	12	12	5
48	1963	RSM	11–0 [22]	London	13	12	5
49	1964	RSM	— [23]	—	14	12	5
50	1965	RSM	9–6 [23]	—	15	12	5
51	1966	CSM	— [24]	—	15	13	5
52	1967	RSM	— [25]	—	16	13	5
53	1968	RSM	6–3 [25]	Cornwall	17	13	5
1969–1979: Results missing (Matches 54–64)
65	1980	RSM	24–0 [24]	—	18	13	5
66	1981	RSM	—	—	19	13	5
67	1982	RSM	—	—	20	13	5
1983–1984: Results missing (Matches 68–69)
70	1985	RSM	—	Cornwall	21	13	5
71	1986	CSM	—	—	21	14	5
72	1987	CSM	—	London	21	15	5
73	1988	CSM	—	Cornwall	21	16	5
74	1989	RSM	—	London	22	16	5
1990–1991: Results missing (Matches 75–76)
77	1992	RSM	—	Cornwall	23	16	5
78	1993	CSM	—	London	23	17	5
79	1994	CSM	—	Cornwall	23	18	5
80	1995	CSM	—	London	23	19	5
81	1996	CSM	—	Cornwall	23	20	5
82	1997	RSM	—	London	24	20	5
83	1998	RSM	26–0 [24]	Cornwall	25	20	5
84	1999	RSM	—	London	26	20	5
85	2000	RSM	22–10	Cornwall	27	20	5
86	2001	RSM	—	London	28	20	5
87	2002	RSM	29–17	Cornwall	29	20	5
88	2003	RSM	12–5	London	30	20	5
89	2004	RSM	22–10	Cornwall	31	20	5
90	2005	RSM	17–15	London	32	20	5
91	2006	RSM	29–11	Cornwall	33	20	5
92	2007	CSM	5–3	London	33	21	5
93	2008	RSM	13–10	Cornwall	34	21	5
94	2009	RSM	14–10	London	35	21	5
95	2010	CSM	13–0	Cornwall	35	22	5
96	2011	RSM	25–20	London	36	22	5
97	2012	RSM	22–0 [24]	Cornwall	37	22	5
98	2013	RSM	24–8	London	38	22	5
99	2014	Draw	6–6	Cornwall	38	22	6
100	2015	RSM	19–7	London	39	22	6
101	2016	CSM	14–5	Cornwall	39	23	6
102	2017	RSM	36–19	London	40	23	6
103	2018	CSM	35–5	Cornwall	40	24	6
104	2019	RSM	15–5	London	41	24	6
105	2020	CSM	10–7	Cornwall	41	25	6
106	2021	CSM	57–7 [26]	London	41	26	6
107	2022	CSM	17–10	Cornwall	41	27	6
108	2023	Draw	17–17	London	41	27	7
109	2024	RSM	12–3	Cornwall	42	27	7
110	2025	RSM	56–7	London	43	27	7
111	2026	RSM	14–3	Cornwall	44	27	7

Rugby Results Tally Summary

Total Matches	RSM Victories	CSM Victories	Draws
111	44	27	7

Note on Record Accuracy: This tally reflects the 111 matches played since the inaugural game in 1902, excluding the seven-year suspensions during both World War I (1914–1920) and World War II (1939–1945). While the total match count is chronologically accurate, 50 results remain missing or unverified from the early 20th century and the mid-1950s through the late 1970s.

Multi-Sport Weekend (Non-Rugby Results)

The following table tracks the winners for each subsidiary sport. The overall winner is awarded the Wardell Armstrong Trophy (introduced in 2020) based on the total points across all events.

Year	Venue	Football	Hockey (M)	Hockey (W)	Netball	Squash	Lacrosse	Badminton	Tennis	Rugby (W)	Overall
2014	Cornwall	CSM	RSM	RSM	CSM	RSM	—	—	—	—	RSM
2015	London	CSM	RSM	CSM	CSM	RSM	—	—	—	—	RSM
2018	Cornwall	CSM	Draw	CSM	CSM	CSM	—	—	—	—	CSM
2020	Cornwall	CSM	RSM	CSM	CSM	CSM	CSM	—	CSM	—	CSM
2022	Cornwall	CSM	RSM	CSM	CSM	CSM	—	CSM	CSM	—	CSM
2023	London	CSM	CSM	RSM	CSM	—	CSM	—	—	—	CSM
2024	Cornwall	CSM	RSM	CSM	CSM	—	CSM	CSM	CSM	CSM	CSM
2025	London	CSM	RSM	CSM	CSM	RSM	RSM	RSM	CSM	Draw	RSM

Note: In 2025, RSM won the Wardell Armstrong Trophy for the first time since its inauguration in 2020, winning 5 of the 9 scoring events (Men's Rugby, Men's Hockey, Squash, Lacrosse, and Badminton).

Notable Rugby participants

Many of those who have played in the Bottle Match have gone on to win international honours; a number of others played in the match after earning international caps. These include:

Camborne School of Mines

• F. S. Jackson, a forward educated at CSM who played for Cornwall and was considered the "star forward" of the 1908 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia. ^[27]
• Philip John Collins, earned 3 caps for the England national team in 1952 and is recognized as one of the oldest living England internationals. ^[28]
• Robert Day Kennedy, captain of the CSM XV who earned 3 caps for the England national team in 1949, scoring a try against Scotland. ^[29]
• J.G. "Jumbo" Milton, earned 5 caps for the England national team (1904–1907) and represented the national side while still a student at CSM. ^[30]
• Cecil Milton, brother of Jumbo, earned an England cap in 1906. ^[31]
• Arthur James Wilson, earned an England cap in 1909 and won an Olympic Silver medal in 1908 representing Great Britain. ^[32]
• Gerald Gordon-Smith, earning 3 [England national rugby union team|England]] caps in 1900, he attended Camborne School of Mines after his brief international career.
• Keith Bearne, earned 2 caps for Scotland in 1960. ^[31]

Royal School of Mines

• John Anthony Sydney Ritson, Professor of Mining at RSM (1936–1952) who earned 8 caps for England and toured with the British & Irish Lions in 1908. ^[33]

See also

• The Varsity Match – The annual rugby match between Oxford and Cambridge.
• Cornwall RFU – The governing body for rugby in Cornwall, which often hosts the Bottle Match.
• Imperial College London – The parent institution of the Royal School of Mines.
• University of Exeter – The parent institution of the Camborne School of Mines.

References

1. "The Bottle Match History". Royal School of Mines Union. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
2. "Got the Bottle?". Imperial Magazine. Spring 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
3. "Anger at Cornish 'inbreds' remark". BBC News. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
4. "Got the Bottle?". Imperial Magazine. Spring 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
5. "Historic Bottle Match to be hosted by Penryn RFC". Falmouth Packet. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
6. "Mascots - Royal School of Mines Union". RSM Union. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
7. "The infamous Bottle Match returns to Penryn this weekend". The Students' Union (Exeter/Falmouth). 18 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
8. Armstrong, Paul (20 February 2026). "CSM rugby players haircuts ahead of Bottle Match Penryn". Falmouth Packet.
9. "Rugby Revival". Western Morning News. 21 December 1921. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
10. "Cambourne School of Mines Beaten at Richmond". Sporting Life. 22 December 1911. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
11. "Bottle Match". The Cornishman. 24 December 1925. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
12. "The Bottle Match". The Cornishman. 23 December 1926. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
13. "Camborne's Victory". The Cornishman. 22 December 1927. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
14. "Camborne Students Match with Royal School". Western Morning News. 22 December 1928. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
15. "Football". Western Morning News. 1 January 1931. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
16. "The Bottle Match". West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. 24 December 1936. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
17. "Welsh Rugby Duel at Herne Hill". Evening News (London). 11 March 1949.
18. "CORNISH SIDES HAVE BETTER OF DEVON DUELS". Cornishman. 17 March 1949. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
19. "REDRUTH SCORE SIX TRIES". Cornishman. 30 March 1950. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
20. "Bottle Match". West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. 22 March 1956. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
21. "Sporting Notes" (PDF). No. 105. The Felix. 22 March 1957. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
22. "RSM win the Bottle" (PDF). No. 190. The Felix. 8 May 1963. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
23. "RSM Retain Bottle" (PDF). No. 217. The Felix. 12 May 1965. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
24. "Got the Bottle?". Imperial Magazine Issue 39.
25. "Bottle Match" (PDF). No. 259. The Felix. 20 March 1968. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
26. "Success at Summer Bottle Match". University of Exeter.
27. "Frederick Stanley Jackson Profile". World Rugby Museum. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
28. "Cornish Sporting Heroes: John Collins". The Cornish Historian. January 2025.
29. "Rugby star dies in Rhodesia". The Guardian. 10 May 1979.
30. "Jumbo Milton Profile". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
31. "The Bottle Match: Historic Rivalry". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
32. "Remembering Arthur James Wilson". World Rugby Museum. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
33. "John Anthony Sydney Ritson". British & Irish Lions. Retrieved 21 February 2026.

External links

• Official website – Royal School of Mines Union Bottle Match Page
• Camborne School of Mines (CSM) – Official University of Exeter departmental page
• Royal School of Mines Association (RSMA) – RSM Alumni Association
• Camborne School of Mines Association (CSMA) – CSM Alumni Association