Scottish Exiles (rugby union)

The Scottish Exiles is a representative rugby union team of Scottish players based outside of Scotland. It serves as a pathway for identifying and developing Scottish-qualified players who may not be playing within the Scottish domestic league system.

The team typically draws its players from clubs in England, Wales, Ireland, and further afield. It provides an opportunity for these players to showcase their abilities to Scottish national team selectors and coaches. Historically, the Scottish Exiles have played representative matches against various opposition, including Scottish age-grade teams, Scottish club sides, and other representative teams.

The primary purpose of the Scottish Exiles is to broaden the player pool available for selection to the Scotland national team and other Scottish representative sides. By providing a platform for players outside of Scotland to gain recognition, it helps ensure that talented Scottish-qualified players are not overlooked simply because they are based abroad. Selection for the Scottish Exiles does not guarantee selection for the full Scotland national team, but it can significantly increase a player's visibility and chances of progressing to higher levels of the game within the Scottish rugby system. The team's activities are generally overseen by Scottish Rugby, the governing body for rugby union in Scotland.