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.
It is widely considered the second-oldest rugby varsity match in the world, following only The Varsity Match between Oxford and Cambridge universities. Furthermore, it is cited as the 14th oldest continuous rugby competition globally. While the centrepiece 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). The first recorded game was a 15-a-side rugby match on 16 December 1902 in London that resulted in an "honourable draw." The match was suspended for seven years during World War I, with play eventually resuming in 1921 for what was dubbed the "Rugby Revival."
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.
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. 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. 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.
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.
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. 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.
Traditions and Trophies
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.
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.
Coinciding with the Bottle Match week, CSM hosts its annual 'Barrel Match' for rugby and football. This tradition faces alumni against current students, with a wooden barrel awarded to the winner of the rugby match.
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.
Rugby Results (Full Record) Winners are highlighted: (Black/Gold) or (Blue/White). Match Year Winner Score Venue RSM Wins CSM Wins Draws 1 1902 Draw — Richmond Park, London 0 0 1 1903–1907: Results missing (Matches 2–6) 7 1908 Draw 11–11 Richmond Park, London 0 0 2 — 1909 Match Cancelled (CSM failed to field) 0 0 2 1910: Results missing (Matches 8–9) 10 1911 RSM 3–0 Richmond Park, London 1 0 2 1912–1913: Results missing (Matches 11–12) Not played due to World War I 13 1921 RSM 13–5 Richmond Park, London 2 0 2 1922–1924: Results missing (Matches 14–16) 17 1925 RSM 11–3 Richmond Athletic Ground, London 3 0 2 18 1926 Draw 8–8 Richmond Athletic Ground, London 3 0 3 19 1927 CSM 13–3 Camborne, Cornwall 3 1 3 20 1928 RSM 11–0 Richmond Athletic Ground, London 4 1 3 1929: Result missing (Match 21) 22 1930 RSM 17–0 Richmond Athletic Ground, London 5 1 3 23 1931 Match Cancelled (RSM failed to field) 5 1 3 24 1932 RSM 20–8 Camborne, Cornwall 6 1 3 1933–1935: Results missing (Matches 25–27) 28 1936 Draw 6–6 Richmond Athletic Ground, London 6 1 4 1937: Result missing (Match 29) 30 1938 RSM 20–8 Camborne, Cornwall 7 1 4 Not played due to World War II 31 1946 CSM — Camborne, Cornwall 7 2 4 32 1947 RSM 8–5 Richmond Athletic Ground, London 8 2 4 33 1948 RSM 10–8 Camborne, Cornwall 9 2 4 34 1949 CSM 15–0 Richmond Athletic Ground, London 9 3 4 35 1950 CSM 18–3 Camborne, Cornwall 9 4 4 36 1951 CSM — Richmond Athletic Ground, London 9 5 4 37 1952 CSM — Camborne, Cornwall 9 6 4 38 1953 CSM — Richmond Athletic Ground, London 9 7 4 39 1954 CSM — Camborne, Cornwall 9 8 4 40 1955 RSM 3–0 Harlington Sports Ground, London 10 8 4 41 1956 RSM 12–3 Camborne, Cornwall 11 8 4 42 1957 Draw 6–6 Harlington Sports Ground, London 11 8 5 43 1958 RSM — Camborne, Cornwall 12 8 5 44 1959 CSM — Harlington Sports Ground, London 12 9 5 45 1960 CSM 6–3 Camborne, Cornwall 12 10 5 46 1961 CSM 8–0 Harlington Sports Ground, London 12 11 5 47 1962 CSM — Camborne, Cornwall 12 12 5 48 1963 RSM 11–0 Harlington Sports Ground, London 13 12 5 49 1964 RSM — Camborne, Cornwall 14 12 5 50 1965 RSM 9–6 Harlington Sports Ground, London 15 12 5 51 1966 CSM — Camborne, Cornwall 15 13 5 52 1967 RSM — Harlington Sports Ground, London 16 13 5 53 1968 RSM 6–3 Camborne, Cornwall 17 13 5 1969–1971: Results missing (Matches 54–59) 57 1972 CSM — Camborne, Cornwall 17 14 5 1973–1976: Results missing (Matches 54–59) 60 1977 RSM — Harlington Sports Ground, London 18 14 5 — 1978 Match Abandoned (Snow) Camborne, Cornwall 18 14 5 61 1979 RSM — Camborne, Cornwall 19 14 5 62 1980 RSM 24–0 Harlington Sports Ground, London 20 14 5 63 1981 RSM 9–4 Camborne, Cornwall 20 14 5 64 1982 RSM — Harlington Sports Ground, London 21 14 5 1983–1984: Results missing (Matches 65–66) 67 1985 RSM 9-7 County Ground Stadium, Exeter* 22 14 5 68 1986 CSM 14-19 Camborne, Cornwall 22 15 5 69 1987 CSM — Harlington Sports Ground, London 22 16 5 70 1988 CSM — Camborne, Cornwall 22 17 5 71 1989 RSM — Harlington Sports Ground, London 23 17 5 70 1990 CSM 6-4 Camborne, Cornwall, London 22 18 5 73 1991 RSM 4–3 Harlington Sports Ground, London 24 18 5 74 1992 CSM — Camborne, Cornwall 24 20 5 75 1993 CSM — Harlington Sports Ground, London 24 20 5 76 1994 CSM 10-3 Camborne, Cornwall 24 21 5 77 1995 CSM 8–3 Harlington Sports Ground, London 24 22 5 78 1996 CSM 23–0 Camborne, Cornwall 24 23 5 79 1997 RSM 16–5 Harlington Sports Ground, London 25 21 5 80 1998 RSM 26–0 Camborne, Cornwall 26 23 5 81 1999 RSM 30–10 Harlington Sports Ground, London 27 23 5 82 2000 RSM 22–10 Camborne, Cornwall 28 23 5 83 2001 RSM — Harlington Sports Ground, London 29 23 5 84 2002 RSM 29–17 Camborne, Cornwall 30 23 5 85 2003 RSM 12–5 Harlington Sports Ground, London 31 23 5 86 2004 RSM 22–10 Camborne, Cornwall 32 23 5 87 2005 RSM 17–15 Harlington Sports Ground, London 33 23 5 88 2006 RSM 29–11 Penryn, Cornwall 34 23 5 89 2007 CSM 5–3 Harlington Sports Ground, London 34 24 5 90 2008 RSM 13–10 Penryn, Cornwall 35 24 5 91 2009 RSM 14–10 Harlington Sports Ground, London 36 24 5 92 2010 CSM 13–0 Penryn, Cornwall 36 25 5 93 2011 RSM 25–20 Harlington Sports Ground, London 37 25 5 94 2012 RSM 22–0 Penryn, Cornwall 38 25 5 95 2013 RSM 24–8 Harlington Sports Ground, London 39 25 5 96 2014 Draw 6–6 Penryn, Cornwall 39 25 6 97 2015 RSM 19–7 Harlington Sports Ground, London 40 25 6 98 2016 CSM 14–5 Penryn, Cornwall 40 26 6 99 2017 RSM 36–19 Harlington Sports Ground, London 41 26 6 100 2018 CSM 35–5 Penryn, Cornwall 41 27 6 101 2019 RSM 15–5 Harlington Sports Ground, London 42 27 6 102 2020 CSM 10–7 Penryn, Cornwall 42 28 6 103 2021 CSM 57–7 Harlington Sports Ground, London 42 29 6 104 2022 CSM 17–10 Penryn, Cornwall 42 30 6 105 2023 Draw 17–17 Harlington Sports Ground, London 42 30 7 106 2024 RSM 12–3 Penryn, Cornwall 43 30 7 107 2025 RSM 56–7 Harlington Sports Ground, London 44 30 7 108 2026 RSM 14–3 Penryn, Cornwall 45 30 7
The original 1985 match at Harlington Sports Ground was cancelled due to a frozen ground, with match being rescheduled at the County Ground Stadium in Exeter later in the year.*
Rugby Results Tally Summary Total Completed Matches RSM Victories CSM Victories Draws 108 45 30 7
Note on Record Accuracy: This tally reflects the 108 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, 26 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.