What is the Cuttitta Cup? History and meaning behind Rugby trophy played for by Scotland and Italy
Gregor Townsend’s side will take on Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Saturday as both teams kick off their 2026 Six Nations campaigns.
The 2026 Six Nations kicked off on Thursday night as pre-tournament favourites and reigning champions France secured a bonus point victory in Paris when they beat Ireland 36-14.
This weekend sees the other two matches in round one take place as Scotland travel to Rome to face Italy and England host Wales at Twickenham. In round two, Scotland welcome England to Murrayfield where the Calcutta Cup will once again be contested.
That historic trophy has been on the line when the two fierce rivals face off for almost 150 years and is the oldest trophy contested between any two international rugby union teams. However, a much newer prize will first be on the line this weekend at the Stadio Olimpico.
What is the Cuttitta Cup? International rugby union trophy contested between Scotland and Italy
The Cuttitta Cup is a trophy played for when Scotland face Italy in an international rugby union test match. It is one of several trophies that are played for during the Six Nations including Calcutta Cup (Scotland vs England), Doddie Weir Cup (Scotland vs Wales), Millennium Trophy (England vs Ireland) and Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy (France vs Italy) to name a few.
How old is the Cuttitta Cup? History and list of winners
The Cuttitta Cup was first contested in 2022 and has been played for four times. Scotland have lifted it three times in 2022, 2023 and 2025 while Italy lifted it once in 2024.
Where does the Cuttitta Cup name come from?
The Cuttitta Cup is named after Massimo Cuttitta, a former Italian captain and Scotland scrum coach. Cuttitta died of COVID-19 in 2021 at the age of just 54 and the trophy was introduced in his memory.
The handles up the trophy are designed to represent two prop forwards, another aspect honouring the 69-times capped Italian forward. It was designed and manufactured by Edinburgh based jewelers Hamilton and Inches who also created the Doddie Weir Cup.
How many different Six Nations trophies are there?
The Cuttitta Cup is the second newest of the eight individual trophies that are contested between two rival teams in the competition. When it was introduced in 2022 it was significant as it meant that Scotland would compete for a trophy in every single individual Six Nations game they played.
The other trophies that Scotland contest are:
- The Calcutta Cup - Scotland vs England - first contested in 1879
- The Centenary Quaich - Scotland vs Ireland - first contested in 1989
- The Auld Alliance Trophy - Scotland vs France - first contested in 2018
- The Doddie Weir Cup - Scotland vs Eales - first contested in 2018
The other trophies contested by two countries in the tournament are:
- The Millennium Trophy - England vs Ireland - first contested in 1988
- The Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy - France vs Italy - first contested in 2007
- The Solidarity Trophy - France vs Ireland - first contested in 2026
The other trophies contested during the Six Nations between multiple teams are:
- The Six Nations Championship Trophy - awarded to the winner of the Six Nations
- The Grand Slam - awarded when one team wins all five of their matches during a single tournament
- The Triple Crown - awarded when one of Scotland, England, Wales or Ireland defeats the other three in a single tournament