Scots thrown into Six Nations confusion as former coach calls for Flower of Scotland anthem to be AXED

FORMER SCOTLAND coach Jim Telfer has called for the anthem Flower of Scotland to be axed.

Telfer, 82, believes that the song should be abandoned because of its anti-English connotations.

Scotland rugby players have sung the Flower of Scotland anthem since 1974Getty

AFP – GettyJim Telfer believes the anthem should be changed[/caption]

The anthem became popular for Scottish teams to sing after winger, Billy Steele, encouraged his team-mates to sing it during a British Lions tour of South Africa in 1974.

It became a pre-game song for the Scots in the 1990 Five Nations and was adopted by the Scottish football association in 1997.

However, Telfer thinks that times have “moved on” and that it is no longer “ideal” because it is against another nation.

In an interview with The Times, he said: “We need to stop defining ourselves through England, and it would be a sign of maturity if we got ourselves a decent national anthem.

“We should change it and have something that reflects us as a mature nation, instead of talking about another country. It would show us in a better light.

“Back then [in 1990], it really got the crowd behind us, but I’d like to think we have moved on…

“Flower of Scotland is a great song in a way and it does get the hairs on your neck straightening and standing up.

“But because it’s against another country, I still don’t think it’s the ideal anthem.

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“People sing that song, sing about the English, and it’s just in the moment.”

Telfer played and coached the Scottish rugby team and later became a wider popular figure after his team talks on the 1997 British Lions tour.

However, current head coach Gregor Townsend does not agree with his predecessor.

The 49-year-old wants it to stay due to the affiliations it has was the team and its fans.

He said: “Whenever I played a few places outside of Scotland and they always wanted to play Flower of Scotland, whether it was Australia or France, they loved the anthem so it means a lot to our supporters.

“They also seem to want to continue.”

Captain Jamie Ritchie has also insisted that the anthem should remain.

He added: “What else would we sing? I don’t know.

“For me, there is something really special about singing it at home.

“When the music cuts out the crowd feels it as well. I couldn’t think of going without it.”

There appear to be no plans to scrap the anthem any time soon.

Scotland starts their Six Nations campaign against England on Saturday at Twickenham Stadium.