World Cup bagpipe ban gets Scots red in face

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LONDON, United Kingdom—A ban on fans playing bagpipes during Scotland’s Rugby World Cup games has angered Scots, prompting frustration among players, online derision and even a parliamentary motion backed by pro-independence MPs.

“When you think of Scotland, you think of bagpipes,” Ross Ford, the Scotland hooker, said of the ban on Friday, according to the Rugby World Cup website’s news service.

“When you are warming up and you hear them, it’s a big boost to the players. It certainly takes away the atmosphere for the fans,” he added.

“It’s our national instrument and national sound.”

Stuart Hogg, the Scotland full-back, said: “Obviously, you love hearing the bagpipes being played and it’s a shame.”

Bagpipes are on a list of items banned during the games to avoid annoying other spectators, including drums, air horns and the notorious vuvuzelas.

A spokesman for the tournament told the Daily Telegraph organizers recognized “the significant role that bagpipes play in Scottish and world rugby heritage” but said the ban would remain in place.

“Individual instruments will not be permitted into venues to rightly give appropriate consideration to fan experience,” the spokesman was quoted as saying, adding that bagpipes would still be played at official ceremonies—just not by fans during games.

The House of Commons motion signed by 21 MPs “recognizes that bagpipes are not dangerous” and “stresses the important of cultural identity associated with bagpipes for Scots.”

Former Scotland star David Sole, who led the team in a famous victory over England in 1990, also condemned the ban in an interview with Scottish television STV.

“I just think it is an absolutely ridiculous decision by the Rugby World Cup to ban bagpipers,” he said.

“What it does is when you hear the pipes going the crowd get behind the Scottish team and to take that away is a terrible decision and disadvantageous to the Scots.”

Scotland take on Japan in Gloucester on Wednesday.