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.

See also

• Scottish Rugby Union
• Scottish rugby commentators and journalists
• Six Nations Championship
• Calcutta Cup - Scotland v England
• Hopetoun Cup - Scotland v Australia
• World Cup
• British and Irish Lions
• Celtic League
• Flower of Scotland - the de facto Scottish national anthem, sung before all Scottish international matches.