Known as Caledonia to the Romans, Scotland occupies the northern part of the United Kingdom, which itself is located in Western Europe. Today Scotland has a population of just over five million people.
Scotland are assured of their place in rugby union history, having contested and won by a score of 4-1 the first ever Test match, against England at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh on 27 March 1871, two years before the Scottish Football Union was formed.
The roots of rugby in Scotland lie within the school system with evidence of a handling ball game played as early as 1810 in Edinburgh. The arrival in England of students with knowledge of the game aided the game’s development.
Scotland was the home of the world’s first purpose-built rugby ground at Inverleith in 1899, 16 years after the abbreviated form of sevens was first played in Melrose at a tournament held on one day to raise funds for the club.
The pinnacle of the domestic game in Scotland, whose national body became known as the Scottish Rugby Union in 1924, are the three professional districts – Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Borders – who play in the Celtic League and Cup.