A pipe has a tubular body with a male end and a female end. The male end has an external surface with a first engagement groove. The female end has an internal surface with a second engagement groove, and an aperture extending from an outer surface of the tubular body to the second engagement groove. The female end receives the male end of another pipe such that the first engagement groove of the male end axially aligns with the second engagement groove of the female end to establish a spline engagement groove having a groove length, LG. A flexible spline is located in the spline engagement groove to lock the pipes together and establish a pipe assembly. The flexible spline has a spline length, LS, and LS≦LG.