Leader: Time to pipe up for common sense

or centuries Scots marched to battle to their intimidating, stirring sound. For decades our sports stars have stood proud when they played. They are part of the nation’s history and modern culture. And the Rugby World Cup organisers have banned them. The decision to banish bagpipes from games in New Zealand seems to have been taken as part of a ban on musical instruments intended to catch the dreaded vuvuzelas. It is utterly baffling and bureaucratic.

FOR centuries Scots marched to battle to their intimidating, stirring sound. For decades our sports stars have stood proud when they played. They are part of the nation’s history and modern culture. And the Rugby World Cup organisers have banned them. The decision to banish bagpipes from games in New Zealand seems to have been taken as part of a ban on musical instruments intended to catch the dreaded vuvuzelas. It is utterly baffling and bureaucratic.

Furthermore it is illogical. If the pipes are banned what else might follow? Will the authorities stop the famous Dax band, a colourful part of the travelling French rugby support, trumpeting the success of Les Blues? And why stop at musical instruments? For consistency, singing will be next. Imagine Welsh fans being prevented from singing Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. Even English fans have the right to sing Swing Low Sweet Chariot. Just.

And if it were taken to its pettifogging extreme, such a move might even lead to the Haka being banned. Already some are arguing it is an act of intimidation which brings a bad atmosphere to All Blacks’ matches. To their credit, the people of New Zealand – many of whom like All Black captain Ritchie McCaw have Scots blood and play the pipes – have seen this move for the nonsense it is, voting overwhelmingly in a phone-in for the ban to be rescinded.

The vuvuzela was a damn nuisance, it is true, and was a modern invention, not some ancient tribal horn. And thousands of Scots do not turn up with a set of pipes intent on playing just one note throughout the game. The Rugby World Cup must lift this outrageous ban before Sunday’s Argentina match.