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.

Famous past players

Some of the most famous former Scottish international players (The Flower of Scotland)

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Since 1945

• Jim Aitken, prop, captain of the 1984 Grand Slam side
• Gary Armstrong, scrum half, captain of Scotland and British Lion in 1989
• Roger Baird, wing
• John Beattie, forward
• Mike Biggar
• Gordon Brown ('Broon frae Troon')
• Peter Brown, brother of Gordon & captain of Scotland, no. 8
• Paul Burnell, prop
• Finlay Calder, flanker
• Jim Calder, twin brother of Finlay
• Mike Campbell-Lamerton, captain of the British Lions http://www.sardisroad.freeserve.co.uk/lions_1966.htm
• Sandy Carmichael, prop
• Craig Chalmers, fly half and British Lion in 1989
• Damian Cronin, lock
• Colin Deans, hooker
• Lewis Dick, wing
• Peter Dods, full back and British Lion in 1989
• Matt Duncan, wing
• Douglas Elliott, flanker http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=284802005
• Bill Gammell, now Scotland's first oil baron
• Chris Gray, lock
• Gavin Hastings, captain of the British Lions, full back
• Scott Hastings, younger brother of Gavin
• Bruce Hay, wing and full back
• Andy Irvine, full back, Scottish captain and British Lion
• Ian Jardine
• John Jeffrey, ('The Great White Shark')
• David Johnston, centre
• Roy Laidlaw, scrum half
• Brendan Laney, fly half
• Alan Lawson, scrum half
• David Leslie, back row
• John Leslie, centre
• Martin Leslie, younger brother of John
• Sean Lineen, the original kilted Kiwi
• Kenny Logan, wing
• Nairn McEwan, back row
• Ian McGeechan "Geech"
• Ian McLauchlan prop, ('Mighty Mouse'), British Lion in New Zealand (1971) and South Africa (1974)
• Alastair McHarg, lock
• Dave McIvor, forward, Edinburgh Academicals (6 caps)
• Glenn Metcalfe, full back
• Iain Milne ('The Bear')
• Iain Morrison, flanker
• Andy Nicol, scrum half
• Iain Paxton, forward
• Eric Peters, No. 8
• Budge Pountney, back row
• Bryan Redpath, scrum half
• Stuart Reid, forward, Boroughmuir, Leeds & Narbonne (8 caps)
• Jim Renwick, centre
• Keith Robertson, centre
• John Rutherford, fly half
• Ken Scotland - a superb passer of the ball
• Rowen Shepherd - 20 caps
• Gordon Simpson, no. 8
• Arthur Smith captain of the British Lions
• David Sole, prop, captain of the 1990 Grand Slam side and British Lion
• Tony Stanger, wing
• Derek Stark
• Alan Tait, centre & Rugby League player
• Colin Telfer, fly half
• Jim Telfer, no. 8
• Alan Tomes, lock
• Gregor Townsend (1973 - ), fly half, British Lion
• Iwan Tukalo, wing
• Derek Turnbull, member of 1990 Grand Slam side
• Rob Wainwright, no. 8, captain of Scotland; British Lions
• Doddie Weir, lock, 61 Scottish caps and a British Lion
• Derek White, London Scottish and British Lion in 1989
• Peter Wright, prop

Before 1945

• Eric Liddell

For more information see the SRU's list of Scotland's international players, 1871-2004.

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• Scottish internationalists on Sporting Heroes
• Irvine and others on video - vintage Scottish rugby (BBC)

See also the category of "Scottish rugby union footballers".

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