Scotland played their first International test against Celtic neighbours Ireland in 1995, in a narrowly fought 26-22 defeat.

‘The Bravehearts’ as they are nicknamed are the youngest of the British Isles’ constituent RL teams and have developed a keen rivalry with their Irish opponents. The two sides have played each other eight times over the last decade.

Despite the fact that the national side’s first Test came in 1995, Rugby League has established a much deeper historical link within the nation’s sporting history. 
The first ever Rugby League Test match, played between a Northern Union representative side and a team of Other Nationalities, saw two Scottish players grace the pitch with George Frater captaining the victorious Other Nationalities team.  Rugby League then made its first appearance in Scotland in 1909 when a game between the Northern Union representative side and a touring Australian side was played at Glasgow’s Celtic Park.

The Scots progressed to the top level of international competition in 2000 when they made their first appearance at a World Cup. Their inexperience showed losing all three pool games against Ireland, Samoa and Aotearoa Maori however they competed admirably with their biggest defeat by just 12 points.

In 2008 Scotland returned to the World Cup where they upset Fiji in a surprise 18-16 victory before losing to Tonga in the seventh place play-off game.