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.

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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)

Close

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.

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.

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)