THE First Minister has described celebrating with the Scotland rugby team in their dressing room after it triumphed over England to win the Calcutta Cup.
Nicola Sturgeon had watched from Edinburgh's Murrayfield stand as Scotland beat their old rivals 25-13 in the Six Nations clash on Saturday.
She was then invited to join the team for an after-match celebration and sip of champagne.
The First Minister told BBC Radio Scotland's John Beattie programme today the atmosphere was "a bit crazy" and she took "just a sip" of champagne from the cup, which Scotland won for the first time in 10 years.
"It was huge honour to go down and congratulate the team and I was keen to do it, but I've probably never hugged so many sweaty, muddy guys in one go," she said.
"The guys were on Cloud Nine. That was a good atmosphere - if a little bit crazy.
"I can't remember which player it was but they put the cup in my hands, which was great, and then said take a drink out of it.
"They had put champagne in it so I took a sip out of the Calcutta Cup, which not very many people get to do. It was a really special moment and I'll remember it for a long time."
She said she believed the victory gave the whole of Scotland a "feel-good" factor.
"Obviously the 60,00 in Murrayfield were euphoric and the sound of Flower of Scotland ringing out in the last couple of minutes of that match was awesome," she said.
"But I think it leads to a general feel-good atmosphere across the country.
"There's no doubt about it - people want to see Scotland win whatever the sport is.
"But with rugby, the Calcutta Cup, the history of that competition, the fact that it has been 10 years since we last won it, I do think that it gives people a boost."
She was joined in the post-match celebrations by author JK Rowling and also spoke to English officials who she said took their team's defeat graciously.
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