Unsporting fans always evenly matched

In the interest of fairness and with no intention to be critical of Dorothy Phillips (Letters, 16 March), booing of opponents at international rugby matches is a feature of all grounds. There was booing of kickers by both sides on Saturday at Murrayfield. Naturally, Scots were loudest for they were by far in the majority. While I deplore such behaviour, it is not new.

BILL McLEAN

Rosemill Court

Newmills, Dunfermline

Dorothy Phillips (Letters, 16 March) has a very short or very selective memory. To blame the rudeness of some of the Scottish support at Murrayfield last Saturday on the SNP government is nonsense.

The English have been the target of this behaviour for decades, certainly since I started attending internationals in the middle of last century, and probably before that as well.

Two examples of antipathy some people have for other nations spring to my mind. At one Wales v Scotland game many years ago a miner from the valleys said he didn't mind who won that day as long as we both went on to defeat England.

The other occurred when my husband and I were on a cruise ship along with people from various European countries, but by far the largest groups were from England and France.

I was astonished at the nasty attitude of the English towards the French and extremely annoyed that as we were "Brits" it was assumed that we felt the same.

I am not condoning or excusing such behaviour; I am pointing out that it exists wherever one goes.

I hope that when we achieve independence and look south to our neighbours as equals we can show them the respect they and all people deserve.

MARY H KELLY

Park Avenue

Edinburgh