An international had been played by an England team against Scotland in 1870 .
The controlling body , the Rugby Football Union , had been formed a year later , so it had developed a far more defined identity and far more intense loyalties .
An international had been played by an England team against Scotland in 1870 and the controlling body , the Rugby Football Union , had been formed a year later , so it had developed a far more defined identity and far more intense loyalties .