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Eddie Jones has joined the debate swirling around England fans singing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

By AAP
England line up for the anthems at Twickenham. (Photo by David Rogers/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

England coach Eddie Jones says he will not try to stop fans at Twickenham Stadium singing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot but maintains they need to be educated on its links with American slavery to make an informed decision.

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The Swing Low anthem, believed to have been written by a slave in the mid-19th century, became a mainstay with England supporters in the 1980s and the RFU said last month it was reviewing its use amid global Black Lives Matter protests.

“It’s an awareness and education piece,” Jones told Sky Sports. “I remember coming in the 2000s and hearing the song when our scrum was under the pump. It didn’t resonate to me that it was involved in things that possibly aren’t too flash.

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“It was a rugby song but, given that people now have that awareness… it’s probably a choice they have got to make. If they are educated enough and aware enough, they will make the right decision, but that’s not for me to tell them.”

The coronavirus pandemic has cast doubt over the future of Super Rugby, with New Zealand pushing for an eight-to-ten team competition which would exclude South Africa and Argentina but include teams from Australia and one from the Pacific.

South Africa are looking to fill the 2021 vacuum with their own competition which would include Argentina’s Jaguares and possibly the Cheetahs and Southern Kings. Jones believes strong domestic competitions are needed to raise the standards of the game.

“The main thing is, and it is shown, is that people want a strong domestic competition and it has probably fallen away a little bit,” said England boss Jones.

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“New Zealand’s Super Rugby has shown that people want to see the best against the best… the task for each country is to make sure their domestic league is the highest level of competition and, if you do that, fans will come and watch.”

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Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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