| ||||||
| Team information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Bravehearts | |||||
| Governing body | Scotland Rugby League | |||||
| Region | Europe | |||||
| Head coach | Nathan Graham | |||||
| Captain | Dale Ferguson | |||||
| Most caps | Danny Brough (25) | |||||
| Top try-scorer | David Scott (10)[1] | |||||
| Top point-scorer | Danny Brough (136)[1] | |||||
| IRL ranking | 19 [2]th | |||||
| Uniforms | ||||||
| ||||||
| Team results | ||||||
| First international | ||||||
 Ireland 26–22 Scotland  (Dublin, Ireland; 13 August 1995) | ||||||
| Biggest win | ||||||
 Italy 0–104 Scotland (Padua, Italy; 17 October 2009) | ||||||
| Biggest defeat | ||||||
 Australia 84–0 Scotland (Coventry, England; 21 October 2022) | ||||||
| World Cup | ||||||
| Appearances | 4 (first time in 2000) | |||||
| Best result | Quarterfinals (2013) | |||||
The Scotland national rugby league team represent Scotland in international rugby league football tournaments.[3] Following the break-up of the Great Britain team in 2007,[4] Scottish players play solely for Scotland, apart from occasional Southern Hemisphere tours, for which the Great Britain team is expected to be revived.[5] The team is nicknamed the Bravehearts.[6]
Though its foundations may date back to as early as 1904, the team formally began in 1995,[6] making them the newest international rugby league team in Great Britain. In their first match they played Ireland, losing narrowly. Since then, Ireland has become the team's main rival, the two teams having played each other many times in their short histories. In 2000 they qualified for their first ever World Cup, but failed to make an impact, losing all three of their group matches;[7] however, their biggest losing margin was just 12 points.[8] In 2008 they beat Wales over two matches to qualify for the 2008 World Cup.[9]
Scotland play in a dark blue strip, similar to the nation's football and rugby union teams, with blue shirt, shorts and socks. A blue and white shield with a thistle, the Scottish emblem, is the team's badge. The shirt has rarely been significantly changed, although in the early days of the team, white was also used on the shirts.[10]
The team is currently ranked 15th[2] in the RLIF World Rankings, having jumped from fourth after going winless in the 2017 World Cup.[11] Englishman Steve McCormack is the team's coach,[12] having coached since 2004,[13] with Danny Brough captaining the side.[14]
- ^ a b All statistics are correct as of April 2020, as per [1].
- ^ a b "INTRL - World Rankings".
- ^ Scotland RL – Play For Scotland Retrieved on 7 February 2008.
- ^ The Guardian – Morley Prepares To Bid Great Britain Farewell Retrieved on 24 July 2008.
- ^ The Rugby Football League – Great Britain Split Retrieved on 7 February 2008. Archived 27 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b 2008 World Cup – Scotland Archived 7 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 23 July 2008.
- ^ BBC Sport – An Unwanted Treble Retrieved on 22 July 2008,
- ^ ArmchairGM – 2000 World Cup Results Retrieved on 22 July 2008.
- ^ The Independent – Scotland Rally To Claim World Cup Spot Retrieved on 22 July 2008.
- ^ BBC Sport – Wednesday World Cup Pictures Retrieved on 22 July 2008.
- ^ "Australia reclaim world No.1 ranking". NRL.com. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
- ^ Scotland RL – Mac Set For World Cup Retrieved on 22 July 2008.
- ^ Rugby League World – Mac Planning Tartan Legacy, Issue 326, May 2008, Page 20. Retrieved on 24 July 2008.
- ^ Rugby League World – Brough 'N' Ready, Issue 328, July 2008, Page 18. Retrieved on 22 July 2008.