Warriors true and proud

Scotland's rugby team might have struggled in recent years but watching an international in Edinburgh is still a treat says Dominic Roskrow

The beginning of the end of winter in Great Britain comes when the rugby union six nations tournament starts. This is a traditional event involving Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales as well as European teams France and Italy.

Each nation plays each other once so the tournament lasts over five weeks, and, to paraphrase a common expression, it comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, starting when the Scottish climate is often at its worst and ending as spring arrives.

If you follow sport you'll know that Scotland has underachieved at both soccer and rugby in recent years. The national teams have either been inadequate or they have been unlucky to be drawn against the very best opposition in important international matches.

Too often Scotland has been saddled with the role of glorious and heroic failures.

Rugby in particular has seen the national side slip in to the doldrums. In the last three years it has only managed to beat Italy in Six Nations matches, and its overall record is poor. The game has been in disarray and all sorts of tactics have been employed, including adding overseas coaches and even players to the side.

You'd think, then, that the appeal of turning out to watch the team play at the magnificent Murrayfield Stadium would have diminished. Not a bit of it.

And indeed, passion for the game is on the up again as the national team returns to its best strengths – the commitment and belief of its very best homegrown talent.

Unlike many other sports...

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• By : Dominic Roskrow
• In : Editor's View
• Issue : 25
• Page : 3
• Words : 544