AN English pipe band helped inspire Scotland to a rampant victory over Japan in the wake of a partial lifting of a bagpipe ban at the Rugby World Cup.
Rugby chiefs retreated partially on their initial ban, by allow pitchside pipers to get the Scotland stars' blood pumping as Japan sought a repeat of their shock 34-32 victory over South Africa at the weekend.
And while pipes were forbidden in the crowd, it emerged that Yorkshire's City of Leeds Pipe Band were the only bagpipers to be officially sanctioned. They got the nod to entertain the crowd outside and inside Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester as Scotland won 45-10 against Japan.
David Paull, a press officer for tournament organisers, England Rugby 2015 Ltd explained that the pipe band had been booked for weeks "as part of our pre-match entertainment" and that they would never have been affected by any bagpipe ban.
A big thank you to @leedspipeband for letting our pupil Aiden play with you today! pic.twitter.com/kAtJw0J1bn
— KingsSchoolGlos (@KingsSchoolGlos) September 23, 2015
The pipes provided a contrast to the sea of cherry and white shirts that greeted the players as they ran onto the Gloucestershire turn.
The Kingsholm stadium is permanently decked out in cherry and white as it has been the home of Gloucester RFC since 1891.
The Rugby World Cup ban had covered "large flags, banners and flag poles, oversized hats, large umbrellas, noisemakers such as vuvuzelas and whistles, horns, air horns, drums, rattles, and musical instruments”.
The bagpipe ban had been described as ridiculous and “disadvantageous” by David Sole, the former Scotland rugby captain who led the nation to a famous grand slam in 1990.
“Players are always focused on the game but you can hear the crowd getting behind you when the pipes are going,” he said. “To take that away is a terrible decision and disadvantageous to the Scots.”
Great win for @Scotlandteam today! Look forward to watching it later - shame works gets In the way of #RWC2015!
— David Sole (@davidsole678) September 23, 2015
Last week, it emerged that the UK Sports Minister, had intervened in the bagpipe ban in light of the outcry from Scottish fans, raising it with the tournament organisers.
The partial lifting of the ban would allow a pipe band on the pitch for the anthems as well as a handful of pitchside pipers. But anyone entering a ground with their bagpipes was likely to be refused entry.
The sight of the Yorkshire pipe band surprised some.
Rupert Bell, the broadcaster, commentator and reporter tweeted: "I thought no bagpipes were allowed in the stadium...bizarrely the city of Leeds pipe band."
I thought no bag pipes we're allowed in the stadium #RWC2015 bizarrely the city of Leeds pipe band @tSHandJ pic.twitter.com/nyU1WgIzip
— Rupert Bell (@Rupertbell) September 23, 2015
For the neutral Gloucester fans, loyalties were split between supporting one of the home nations or the team wearing the cherry and white shirts.
The Japanese have made friends in the city over the years as the Cherry Blossoms were beaten 40-5 by the Cherry and Whites in 2013 and recently played a pre-tournament friendly against Georgia.
Scotland the brave playing outside the office. Scotland musta won then. I've never actually heard it in anything but bagpipes O_o hmm
— Spark plug (@taff_89) September 23, 2015
But Gloucester also has strong Scottish connections as current Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw plays for the Cherry and Whites and, until recently, scrum-half Bryan Redpath was head coach.
Other past Scots who have graced the turf at Kingsholm include former Gloucester captains Ian Smith and Jim Hamilton, Rory Lawson, Chris Paterson and Alasdair Strokosch.
The City of Leeds Pipe Band pipe band was founded in October 1960 by a small group of former members of the Scottish Regimental Association of Yorkshire Pipe Band, also known as The Yorkshire Jocks.
Their uniform is based on the Royal Stewart Tartan with green coatee and feather bonnet with red hackle.
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