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.

Scottish coaches

Noteworthy coaches (also players): Ian McGeechan, Jim Telfer

Related Topics:
Ian McGeechan - Jim Telfer

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Recent national coaches have been foreigners. At the moment, there is no head coach of the national side after the Australian Matt Williams was sacked. The forwards coach is Ulsterman Willie Anderson. He succeeded New Zealander and former All Black captain Todd Blackadder who is still playing for and coaching the Edinburgh Gunners professional team. Frank Hadden, the old coach of the highly successful Merchiston Castle School rugby team, and the current coach of the most successful rugby team in Scotland, Edinburgh, was named interim coach for two internationals in 2005, winning them both.

Related Topics:
Matt Williams - Willie Anderson - All Black - Todd Blackadder - Edinburgh Gunners

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Iain Paxton and Peter Wright agreed to take over coaching the national U-21 and U-19 sides respectively at the end of 2004. See here for details.

Related Topics:
Iain Paxton - Peter Wright

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