The ban will come into effect at the first autumn Test against Australia on November 6.

Smoking will still be allowed on the concourses of the stadium but SRU president Gordon Dixon insists the decision reflects public opinion.

He said: We are taking this policy decision to reflect the overwhelming views of our customers.

Supporters come to Murrayfield to watch rugby players, in the peak of health and fitness, display their skills.

We are renowned as a family-friendly stadium and given the evidence of the dangers of passive smoking and the feedback of supporters, we will be instituting a no-smoking ground rule within the stadium bowl from our Abbey Autumn Test against Australia on Saturday 6 November.

We are reflecting the growing public mood.

You cannot smoke on most public transport, at the cinema or theatre or, indeed, at other international sports venues such as the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and I know from our postbag that the vast majority of our supporters wish Murrayfield to be smoke-free.