Rugby: Vuvuzelas banned from Springboks, ABs game

A football fan blows on a vuvuzela. Photo by AP.
A football fan blows on a vuvuzela. Photo by AP.
The controversial accompanying track to the Soccer World Cup--the vuvuzela-- has been banned from this weekend's All Blacks test at Eden Park and will not be allowed in to any Rugby World Cup games next year.

The vuvuzela is a long plastic horn that produces a loud, distinctive monotone note. There has been much criticism of the constant use of the horns at the World Cup and demand for earplugs have reportedly outstripped supply in South Africa.

Loud airhorns have never been allowed at Eden Park, chief executive David Kennedy said.

"I think its a judgment call on whether to let in certain items," Mr Kennedy said.

"There are 25,000 people expected to turn up to the test match this weekend and any vuvuzelas brought to the venue will be confiscated," he said.

The loud horns would be given back to fans after the game.

Vuvuzelas have also been banned from Wimbledon, the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Rugby World Cup next year.

The Rugby World Cup's official website states that any air horns or sound amplifiers will be prohibited from games as will musical instruments and whistles.

 

Vuvuzelas into Eden Park

Dave, loud airhorns were once permitted into Eden Park, for at least one match I can recall. I attended the 1999 NPC final (from memory Auckland played Wellington... Michael Jones' final match for Auckland) and I was able to purchase what appeared to be a slimmed down Vuvuzela (though it was not called that, at the time) for a few dollars. Needless to say, they were bloody annoying and - again, from memory - banned very soon thereafter.
Cheers,
Bones