Rugby race storm over ‘Chiefs’ fan headdresses

RUGBY bosses have been asked to review the wearing of Native American headdresses by fans of the exeter Chiefs – calling it ‘cultural appropriation’.

Coventry-based Wasps said it will ‘encourage the entire rugby community to take action against inequality and other forms of discrimination’.

Fans will not be banned from wearing ‘faux Native American attire’ but will be discouraged from doing so, said Wasps, who host exeter Chiefs this weekend. ‘Many topics and behaviours which were once tolerated, such as cultural appropriation, are no longer acceptable,’ it said.

Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Football Union said they encourage clubs to make the league more inclusive. exeter Chiefs declined to comment last night.