Scotland's rugby union team took part in - and won - the first ever international rugby match ever, in 1871. Significantly, the match was against England, the "auld enemy", making the victory even sweeter! The rivalry has of course continued since: the Calcutta Cup is still awarded to whichever team wins their annual Six Nations encounter.
Scotland enjoyed early success on the international rugby union stage, winning early editions of the Home Nations Championship and Five Nations - both forerunners to the Six Nations - in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The post-war years brought something of a barren spell, but by the late 20th century the team was again becoming a force of Northern Hemisphere, and world, rugby. Although Scotland have not always been consistent performers in the last couple of decades, they are nonetheless revered for their physicality, ingenuity, and never-say-die attitude. The Scots are capable of beating any team on their day, and are always backed by a passionate crowd, home or away.
