Scotland national rugby union team

Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union, a founder member of the International Rugby Board in 1886 with fellow Celtic nations Ireland and Wales. The thistle is the national flower, and also the symbol of the Scotland national rugby union team. According to legend the "guardian thistle" has played its part in the defence of Scotland against a night attack by the Danes, one of whom let out a yell of pain when he stepped barefoot on a thistle, alerting the Scottish defenders. The Latin Nemo me impune lacessit ("No-one provokes me with impunity!" in English) is an ancient Scottish motto, "me" in this case being the prickly thistle itself.

Current national team players

Current Scottish national team players (2004) include:

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• Mike Blair (scrum half)
• Gordon Bulloch (hooker)
• Chris Cusiter (scrum half)
• Simon Danielli (wing)
• Bruce Douglas (prop)
• Stuart Grimes (lock)
• Andrew Henderson (centre)
• Nathan Hines (lock)
• Ally Hogg (no. 8)
• Ben Hinshelwood (centre/full back)
• Allan Jacobsen (prop, nicknamed 'Chunk')
• Donnie Macfadyen (flanker)
• Graeme Morrison (centre)
• Scott Murray (lock)
• Dan Parks (fly half)
• Chris Paterson (fly half/full back/wing)
• Jon Petrie (back row)
• Tom Philip (centre)
• Gordon Ross (fly half)
• Robbie Russell (hooker)
• Tom Smith (prop)
• Hugo Southwell (full back/centre)
• Simon Taylor (no.8)
• Jason White (flanker)