The flag has messages of support from round the globe

The flag, which covers the same area as 11 double-decker buses, was presented to the national team ahead of their match against Ireland.

It is designed to bring the team luck at the Rugby World Cup in Australia, which gets under way next month, but failed to stop the Scots losing 10-29 on Saturday.

The 25 metre by 20 metre saltire includes printed messages from more than 16,000 fans as well as hand-written messages from Sir Sean Connery, Ewan McGregor, Sir Alex Ferguson and First Minister Jack McConnell.

Thirty two children from every region in Scotland carried out the presentation at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

Fans have until 20 September to send in their own messages to be printed on the flag after rugby chiefs extended the original deadline.

Contributions have already been received from as far afield as the US, Canada, Cambodia, Venezuela, Vietnam, the Bahamas, Sri-Lanka, China, Cuba and Botswana.