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'Furious': X erupts as England fans drown out haka with controversial rugby anthem
By
Ian Cameron
Social media erupted this afternoon after England fans drowned out the All Blacks‘ haka with an ear-splitting rendition of ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.
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The pre-match atmosphere was charged following England prop Joe Marler’s remarks on X earlier in the week dismissing the Maori war dance as “ridiculous” and suggesting it be scrapped.
Marler’s comments intensified anticipation with speculation from fans and pundits as to how the All Blacks would respond.
As the All Blacks lined up for the haka, England met the challenge with a formation that stopped at the halfway line. The stadium erupted in song, nearly overpowering the haka with “Swing Low.” By the end only a few meters separated the teams.
While the consensus on social media was that the haka and its response was a fantastic spectacle, others weren’t so happy with the home fan drowning out the haka with the controversial rugby anthem.
One England fan wrote: “As an England fan myself, the England fans singing Swing Low over the New Zealand haka is so f***ing disrespectful. What is happening to rugby fans?! Furious,” while another England supporter agreed: “You’re spot on and I’ve said this for years. Marler kind of has a valid point in some respect. Let the Haka be loud, let the English players respond, not have 82000 sing over it.”
Another irate fan also branded it disrespectful.
“I’m a proud English man BUT the fans at Twickenham singing swing low during the haka are showing disrespect.”
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In the same vein another fan observed: “That was deeply disappointing and actually quite disrespectful in my view to not have someone actually singing the NZ anthem there. And then to have the Twickenham crowd singing Swing Low over the Haka. Come on Rugby we are better than that.”
Others were split on the response: “Deafening Swing Low during the Haka. Not sure whether I love it or see it as disrespectful… Let’s go with ‘love it’,” while others defended the response, one pointing out: “Why do we have to respect this cringe? Get rid of it!”
BIG RESPONSE! 🌹
England face up to the Haka! #AutumnNationsSeries | #ENGvNZL pic.twitter.com/pHV7VcXiSa
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) November 2, 2024
Swing Low is deemed controversial by some due to its origins as an African American spiritual, with critics arguing it may be insensitive in a modern sporting context.
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It is not a rugby anthem. It’s a very sad American spiritual sang by disrespectful ignorants.
What the hell was English rugby thinking by not having someone sing a decent NZ anthem. Pretty poor. Karma
Now THAT was disrespectful@Hellhound
Even AB players shook their head when the NZ anthem started without any direction.
A beer for breakfast & another one for dessert. Well done All Blacks, ka mau te wehi.
Really, really getting irritated by these Haka Nazis now.
NZ players repeatedly say its personal choice how its reacted to. Can someone explain exactly how the crowd is supposed to behave during the Haka. A DEFINITIVE answer if possible?
However You Want.
Hell, I was at the Kiwis Vs Tonga league match last night and Tongan fans loudly booed the Kiwis haka.
On our own turf!! (23,000 people, 80-90% of them were Tongan).
League fans don’t care about that sort of stuff though.
The kiwis haka has a throat slitting gesture and references to Tumatauenga- the god of war lol.
Rugbys a bit more sensitive, traditionally.
They can respond how they like. And we can moan how we like. It's called freedom of choice. No need to be a control freak about it mate. Your freakout in CAPITALS is the only proper Nazi behaviour I can see.
The All Blacks had the last laugh. Perhaps it’s karma. Just desserts…
Yeah , 80,000 drowning out 23 is so ahh-may-zingggg lol. Why bother inviting us to do the haka, & then drown it out? How rude & classless.
Mind you. The Home Unions have only won SIXTEEN test matches out of a total tests played of 152 versus the All Blacks, so yeah, I get it. 80,000 drowning out 23 is a sorta win. Well done England fans. You rock.
Calling people rude again SadersBoy?
"The Home Unions have only won SIXTEEN test matches out of a total tests played of 152 versus". NZ were blessed! Boasting after that scrape? But congratulations on your personal achievement. 😉
Every Union automatically invites the Haka. De Facto its not a choice. If you don't invite them and invite them the way they want they will embarrass you by doing it in the Jacks.
Nobody invited you to do the Haka
What crap. English fans have sung sweet chariot during the haka before. Much like Ellis park fans have sung ole.
Amnesia or just political overcorrectnedness.
Admission paying fans can do as they please in their stadium.
Including practicing their own culture by singing Sweet Chariot - something that’s done in English sports stadia across many sports codes, and celebrated for it.
Of course they can all sing and do what they want. But it seems weird that the England fans have adopted a slave song from the states as 'their own culture'.
Loved it. Mad Respect for Jaime George and the boys.
Totally unacceptable English fans are morons
The match was in TWICKENHAM, LONDON. England supporters can react any way they bloody like. After singing in Jo-burg, NZ players said spectators can react any way they like, personal choice.
No