Scotland B national rugby union team

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Rugby team

Scotland B

Union| Scottish Rugby Union

Team kit

Change kit

|

First international
Scotland B 9–23  France B
(1971)
Largest win
Scotland B 37–0  Italy B
(1987)
Largest defeat
Scotland B 4–44  France B
(1982)

The Scotland national B rugby union team was one of several national rugby union teams behind the Scottish national side. It was largely used as a development side and began in the era when Scotland had little in the way of an age-grade pathway.

It has now been disbanded - having been supplanted by the age-grade national teams; and the Scotland 'A' side. However the 'B' side was not the same as the 'A' side; and for a period between 1990 and 1992 Scotland ran both 'A' and 'B' international sides. Players such as Cameron Glasgow and Ian Jardine have 'A' and 'B' caps.

## History

[edit]

The first Scotland 'B' match took place against France 'B' on 13 November 1971 and those continued throughout the 'B' side's history; and later more opposition arrived in the shape of Ireland 'B' and Italy 'B'. Scotland 'B' matches were Scotland's first attempt to be a development pathway for age-grade players; the Scotland Under 21 side played its first match in 1984. A 'B' cap was seen as a stepping stone to a full cap. After 1984, although losing its age-grade rationale, the Scotland 'B' side continued to run as a development side alongside the Under 21 and later age-grade sides; and was still seen as a stepping stone to a full cap.

No fully capped players were eligible for selection to the 'B' side.[1]

The introduction of a Scotland 'A' side in 1990 [first played against Spain], alongside the age-grade pathway sides, meant that the remaining rationale of a 'B' side dwindled. The 'A' side was used as an official 'capture' side for securing residency or otherwise qualified players for Scotland's international selection, further increasing its usefulness.

The last Scotland 'B' international match took place in 1992. Again, it was against France 'B'.

In a weird twist, Scotland was to later field a Scotland Development XV between 1995 and 2002; indicating that the need for a development team outwith the 'A' side and age-grade sides remained necessary. However this Development XV side was not nominated a Scotland 'B' side. In 2024, Scotland started fielding an Emerging Scotland side, which was seen as a development side after the age grade pathway was exhausted and before an 'A' or senior cap.

## Selected teams

[edit]

Main article: List of Scotland B national rugby union players

### First match

[edit]

The first Scotland 'B' match was against France 'B' on 13 November 1971 at Oyonnax, near the France - Switzerland border.[2] Frances 'B' had already beat Wales 'B' 30 - 9.[1] The Scots fared slightly better but were still beaten 23 - 9.[3]

### Dixon's run of success

[edit]

The B team played on 18 February 1989 against France B.

The squad was:

M Wright (Kelso); D A Stark (Ayr), B Edwards (Boroughmuir), R R W Maclean (Gloucester), W L Renwick (London Scottish); D K Shiel (Jed-Forest), J M Scott (Stewart's Melville FP); D F Milne (Heriot's FP), J A Hay (Hawick), P H Wright (Borougmuir), D S Munro (Glasgow High Kelvinside), J F Richardson (Edinburgh Academicals), G E A Buchanan-Smith, C B S Richardson, captain, (both London Scottish), K P Rafferty (Heriot's FP). Replacements—I J Ramsey (Melrose), T J Exeter (London Scottish), S Jardine (South Glamorgan Institute), R I Wainwright (Edinburgh Academicals), D J D Buthcer (London Scottish), J G Runciman (Melrose).[4]

It was coached then by Richie Dixon, at the time the coach of the Glasgow District side.[4] It was reported in 1988 that Dixon had won Scotland B 5 out of their last 6 matches, including 2 France B matches[5]

### Last match

[edit]

The last Scotland 'B' match to play [against France 'B'] saw these sides below face one another on 3 February 1992. Graham Young was the selector of the Scotland 'B' squad.[6] Hugh Campbell was the forwards coach.[7] Guy Laporte was the head coach of France 'B'.[8]

FRANCE ■ S. Ougler, P. Salles. M Marsaing, H. Coufflgal, B. Lorenzin, D. Pouyau, J. Cazalbou, L. Annary [captain], J. Genet, R. Csespy, H. Mlorln, J. Gourrange. P. Chamayou, C. Oeslandes, M. Courtiols

SCOTLAND ■ M. Appleson (London Scottlsh), D. Stark (Ayr), D. Caskie (Gloucester), I. Jardine (Stirling County), M. Moncrieff (Gala), G. Townsend (Gala), D. Patterson (Edinburgh Acads), P. Jones (Gloucester), M. Scott (Dunfermline), B. Robertson (Stirling County), R. Scott (London Scottish), A. MacDonald (Heriot’s), S. Reid (Boroughmuir), D. McIntosh (Pontyprldd), R. Wainwrlght (Edinburgh Acads) [captain].

Referee: S. Pearcy (England).

France won the match 27 - 18.[7]

## Unlucky 'B' caps

[edit]

Several 'B' caps for Scotland were unlucky - whether through injury, illness, or just in an era where a more dominant player played in their position - not to go on a receive a full senior cap.[9]

* Rodney Balfour (Glasgow HSFP)
* Ian Gray (West of Scotland)
* Stewart Hamilton (Stirling County)
* Richie Dixon (Jordanhill)
* Wes Wyroslawski (Jordanhill)
* Hugh McHardy (Kilmarnock)
* Brian Edwards (Boroughmuir)
* Niven Rose (Kilmarnock)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Register". Retrieved 16 June 2023 - via British Newspaper Archive.
2. ^ "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
3. ^ "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
4. ^ a b "Shade is the only bright spot for Glasgow rugby". Herald Scotland.
5. ^ "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
6. ^ "Register". Retrieved 16 June 2023 - via British Newspaper Archive.
7. ^ a b "Register". Retrieved 16 June 2023 - via British Newspaper Archive.
8. ^ "Register". Retrieved 16 June 2023 - via British Newspaper Archive.
9. ^ "Scotland's best uncapped team? Matt Vallance has his say". The Offside Line. 27 December 2019.

## See also

[edit]

### Men's National teams

[edit]

#### Senior

[edit]

* Scotland national rugby union team
* Scotland A national rugby union team
* Scotland national rugby sevens team

#### Development

[edit]

* Scotland B national rugby union team
* Scotland Club XV
* Emerging Scotland

#### Age Grades

[edit]

* Scotland national under-21 rugby union team
* Scotland national under-20 rugby union team
* Scotland national under-19 rugby union team
* Scotland national under-18 rugby union team
* Scotland national under-17 rugby union team
* Scotland national under-16 rugby union team

### Women's National teams

[edit]

#### Senior

[edit]

* Scotland women's national rugby union team
* Scotland women's national rugby union team (sevens)

* v
* t
* e

Scotland national rugby union team

Scottish Rugby Union

History|

* Records

Players|

* All Players
* Scotland 'B' Players
* Killed in World War I
* Killed in World War II

Home stadium|

* Raeburn Place
* 1871–1897
* Inverleith
* 1899–1925
* Murrayfield Stadium
* 1925–present

Competitions and trophies|

* Rugby World Cup
* Six Nations Championship
* Triple Crown
* Grand Slam
* Auld Alliance Trophy
* Calcutta Cup
* Centenary Quaich
* Doddie Weir Cup
* Hopetoun Cup
* Douglas Horn Trophy
* Cuttitta Cup

Related teams|

* Sevens
* Scotland A
* Scotland B
* Scotland Club XV
* Emerging Scotland
* U21s
* U20s
* U19s
* U18s
* U17s
* U16s

Matches|

| By opponent|

* Argentina
* Australia
* Barbarians
* England
* France
* Ireland
* Italy
* New Zealand
* Samoa
* South Africa
* Wales

|

See also|

* England (1871)
* England (Centenary)

Tours|

| Australia|

* 1982
* 1992
* 1998
* 2004
* 2012
* 2017

|

New Zealand|

* 1975
* 1981
* 1990
* 1996
* 2000

South Africa|

* 1999
* 2003
* 2006
* 2014

Argentina|

* 1969
* 1994
* 2008
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

Zimbabwe|

* 1988
* 1995

Oceania|

* 1993
* 1998
* 2004
* 2012
* 2017

North America|

* 1985
* 2002
* 2014
* 2018
* 2024

Japan|

* 1989
* 2016

See also|

* Flower of Scotland

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in Scotland

Governing body|

* Scottish Rugby Union

National teams|

| Men's|

* Men's
* A
* B
* Scotland Club XV
* Emerging Scotland
* U-21
* U-20
* U-19
* U-18
* U-17
* U-16
* 7s

|

Women's|

* Women's
* 7s

Competitions|

| International|

* World Cup
* Six Nations
* Rugby World Cup Sevens
* Sevens World Series
* Commonwealth Games
* Sevens Grand Prix Series

|

Professional Club|

* United Rugby Championship
* European Rugby Champions Cup
* European Rugby Challenge Cup
* 1872 Cup

Amateur Club|

* Scottish League Championship
* Premiership
* National League: Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, Division 4
* Regional Leagues \- Caledonia, East, West
* Border League
* Inter-District Championship
* Scottish Cup
* Scottish Women's Premiership

Junior rugby|

* Age-grade Championships: U20, Borders Competitions, Scottish Rugby Schools' Cup

Defunct|

* Super 6
* Grampian Alliance League
* Highland Alliance League
* Championship League A and B
* Scottish Unofficial Championship
* Scottish Women's Rugby Union

Teams|

| Professional|

* Edinburgh
* Glasgow Warriors

|

Defunct|

* Border Reivers
* Caledonia Reds

See also|

* History
* League System
* Scotland international players
* Scotland 'B' international players
* Murrayfield Stadium
* Scotland Sevens
* Borders Sevens Circuit
* Melrose Sevens
* Melrose Cup
* London Scottish F.C.
* Calcutta Cup
* Centenary Quaich
* Auld Alliance Trophy
* Doddie Weir Cup
* Cuttitta Cup
* Hopetoun Cup
* Douglas Horn Trophy
* Scottish Rugby Academy
* Scottish District rugby structure
* John Macphail Scholarship

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