So now that we know Richie McCaw plays the bagpipes, and has Scottish heritage, the Rugby World Cup organisers are being put under pressure from all quarters to lift the ban on bagpipes.

The Scottish media, traditionalists and rugby aficionados want their instrument in the stadiums. This involves Scottish MPs, a Facebook plea, letters to the NZ prime minister, even the Scottish parliament has waded in. Scottish parliamentarian Jim Eadie has said “we need our bagpipes belting out Scottish music to have a fighting chance”.

So there is more than a hint of hypocrisy at play by the organisers here.

If the New Zealanders can play and toot the pukaea, the predecessor of the vuvuzela, before every Rugby World Cup match, why can’t the Scots play their instrument? And why can’t the South African supporters toot the vuvuzela?

You see, a RWC rule bans the South African vuvuzela as nothing longer than 80cm may be allowed into the stadiums! I don’t want to go on about the impressive South African length, of the vuvuzela, but this ban was written to include “umbrellas, vuvuzelas and gang insignia”. The lengths the New Zealanders had to go to limit South African support so they can try and win the Rugby World Cup at home!

It’s quite a bit of a stretch to simply ban the vuvuzela.

So now some enterprising chap needs to get his Chinese factory in Hong Kong to produce a vuvuzela of 60cm.

The 60cm vuvuzela is a good length that won’t embarrass any South African male and he can let off his reservoir of air in the stadiums.

The opening ceremony celebrated and glorified the bagpipes, with an incredibly stirring rendition, as well as the hooting of the traditional pukaea. Before each match and before every single kick-off in the Rugby World Cup matches they sound the French air horn to rally the spectators.

Give the fans what they want. Let them blow to their hearts’ content the traditional instrument of their choice. Let’s get on with the RWC and may the best two teams from each of the four pools advance to the quarter-finals.

Author

  • Tony led the change in corporate identity of South African Airways from the airline of the old South Africa to the flag carrier of the new South Africa. Before that he was a competitive provincial sportsmen in swimming, diving, waterpolo, lifesaving and white water rafting. Rugby was played at Bishops, NW Cape, Maties, van der Stel, UCT, Hamiltons and False Bay. Tony singularly authored the blueprint for the establishment of Soccer City Stadium for the PSL which in 2010 hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup and the Finals of the soccer showpiece. He was past CEO of the Southern & Eastern Cape Super 14 Rugby franchise, the Southern Spears and now CEO of the Super 20 Rugby World Series.

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Tony McKeever

Tony led the change in corporate identity of South African Airways from the airline of the old South Africa to the flag carrier of the new South Africa. Before that he was a competitive provincial sportsmen...

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