Exeter was right to scrap its Native American mascot

For once I find myself on the other side of the argument in agreeing that ‘Big Chief’, the erstwhile tomahawk-wielding mascot of the Exeter Chiefs rugby club, deserved to be axed. He was an affront to Native Americans, perpetuating the calumny that their ancestors were – to quote the Declaration of Independence – ‘merciless Indian savages’.

Exeter has retired their mascot but retained their ‘chiefs’ moniker, explaining that they have gone by the nickname for nearly a century. Rugby clubs in Devon had a tradition of referring to their 1st XV as the ‘chiefs’ and that is why it was chosen in 1999 when the club wanted a gimmicky name.

For those moaning about political correctness gone mad, imagine if a sports franchise in the States nicknamed itself the Redcoats, adopting one of General Cornwallis’s men as its mascot, complete with bloodied bayonet. Is that how we would wish history to judge us?

Much has been made in recent months of the treatment of slaves and their descendants in the US. But