Glasgow urge Exeter fans not to wear headdresses at Champions Cup match
Glasgow Warriors have asked Exeter Chiefs fans not to wear Native American-style headdresses, or sing their trademark “Tomahawk Chop” chant, during Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup match at Scotstoun.
Exeter are expected to ditch their Native American branding after a majority of their supporters backed changes. Exeter are also thought to be reviewing the use of their nickname, having announced a decision on future plans “within the next few weeks” at the end of November.
The National Congress of American Indians has previously urged the Premiership side to drop their “Chiefs” moniker, while Wasps have asked travelling fans not to wear headdresses to matches between the teams at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
The Warriors managing director, Alastair Kellock, has insisted the request is to “stand up” for Glasgow supporters, who had urged the club to take a position on the issue. “Since it was announced in September that we’d play Exeter Chiefs in this season’s Champions Cup, we have taken time to consider our position,” said Kellock.
“Following the pool stage draw, we set up a working group to understand and educate ourselves on this sensitive issue and gather the views of our supporters, representatives from the Native American community, the competition organisers, and Exeter
Chiefs themselves,” former Scotland international Kellock added.
“Today, Glasgow Warriors are asking visiting fans from Exeter Chiefs not to attend the game on Saturday with faux Native American headdresses or chant the ‘Tomahawk Chop’ during the match,” Kellock added.
“We are making this request out of respect for the Native American community around the world, whose views on the use of their imagery and cultural heritage we support, and the Glasgow supporters who have called for us to act on this matter.”
“Glasgow Warriors is a welcoming club, that celebrates inclusivity and diversity and by making this call for action we want to live up to these values,” the 40-year-old continued. “The club has informed Exeter Chiefs of our request and has the full support of Scottish Rugby.”
Several members of the Exeter board are understood to be strongly in support of rebranding. While no formal vote was taken at the club’s annual general meeting in November, it is understood that around 70% of email feedback from fans backed a branding change.