Campaigners hoping to ease a ban on bagpipes being played by Scottish fans at the Rugby World Cup have been given a boost.
Bagpipes are among the “restricted items” World Rugby have banned from the tournament, along with oversized hats, big umbrellas and vuvuzelas, amid fears they will potentially annoy other supporters.
But the ruling has been branded “ridiculous” and “disadvantageous” by David Sole, who captained Scotland to their last Grand Slam triumph, in 1990.
And now campaigners have won the support of Sports Minister Tracey Crouch, who has said she will raise the matter directly with Brett Gosper, the chief executive of World Rugby.
Ms Crouch is behind campaigners’ alternative plan for a lone bagpiper to play up from the stands, which they argue would not annoy other supporters.
She has told SNP MP Hannah Bardell, who is fighting the ban, she would do her best to help them reach a compromise.
Ms Bardell, who represents Livingston, said: “She gave me her personal commitment that she would do that, which was very good. I will be checking with her on Monday and I’m sure the Scottish Rugby Union will be pursuing it as well.
“Tracey was very enthusiastic and supportive about our sensible one piper approach, so we are keeping our fingers crossed.
“It would simply not be the same to have bagpipes only during the national anthem, which could even just be pumped out over the tannoy, it seems.”
Ms Bardell has tabled a parliamentary motion signed by Plaid Cymru and Democratic Unionist MPs, as well as many of her SNP colleagues.
She raised the ban with Ms Crouch after being introduced to her at the House of Commons by a supportive Conservative MP.
A spokesman at the department for culture, media and sport (DCMS) said that, following a conversation with World Rugby, it hoped decisions about bagpipers could be taken “on a case-by-case basis”.
He said: “Tracey has sympathy with the SNP’s view and officials have made representations to the organisers.
“She hopes that if it is just one, sole bagpiper trying to come in, and they are not interfering with the people around them and their enjoyment of the game, they could be let through.”