Rugby fans told no more a-waltzing

By CNN's Grant Holloway

Players and fans alike are unimpressed by the banning of the song. Story Tools FACT BOX There are several versions of Waltzing Matilda. The following words are the most commonly sung in Australia. Verse 1: Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong Under the shade of a Coolibah tree And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me. Chorus: Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me And he sang as he watched and waited til his billy boiled You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me. Verse 2:  Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tuckerbag You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me Verse 3: Up rode the squatter mounted on his thoroughbred Down came troopers one two three Whose that jumbuck you've got in the tuckerbag? You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me Verse 4:  Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong You'll never catch me alive said he And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.

SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- It's the sorry tale of a sheep thief who drowns himself rather than be arrested, and it's arguably Australia's most recognized song.

Written in 1895 by folk poet Banjo Paterson and later set to music, the song "Waltzing Matilda" is not Australia's national anthem -- but it is raising passions most ditties could only dream of mustering.

Why? Because singing it has been banned -- well at least at rugby union's World Cup tournament which kicks off in October, in Australia.

Much akin to the sentiments expressed in the song, nothing makes Australians' blood boil more than telling them they can't do something.

Especially if the decree comes from on high, in this case the Ireland-based International Rugby Board (IRB).

National anthems will be OK. So will "appropriate" cultural displays, which means New Zealand's All Blacks will still be able to perform their fearsome Maori challenge the "haka".

But the admittedly recent practice at Australian international rugby games of a rousing chorus of Waltzing Matilda to spur on the men in gold jumpers has been given the official thumbs down.

The decision has prompted a storm of outrage, protest and bemusement in Australia and beyond. Emails, phone calls and letters have flooded into the offices of the Australian Rugby Union (ARU).

Australian Prime Minister John Howard was quick to voice his scorn. "I resent it," he told media earlier this week.

"But in any event, I pose the question: How are they going to stop it being sung? You try and stop 82,000 Australians singing Waltzing Matilda -- you'll only make their night.

"Nations determine their culture, not other people," Howard said.

Patronizing

Former and current players have also been quick to make their views known, and, to a person, those views have been uncomplimentary.

Head of the ARU, John O'Neill, said the ban smacked of being patronizing, something, he added perhaps unnecessarily, Australians did not take well to.

Even New Zealanders, not always known for their brotherly support of Australia in sporting matters, have ridiculed the ruling.

The IRB can, of course, still change its mind.

But even if it doesn't, come Saturday evening, October 10 -- as the Wallabies square up in the opening tournament match against Argentina -- 82,000 voices will swell with pride.

And whether they like it or not, the IRB is sure to hear: "Once a jolly swagman, camped by a billabong ..."

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