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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.
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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 fans 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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My view.
NZ: Do the haka
Opponents :
Do what ever you want in response
And world rugby
Butt out
How do you drown out the Haka?
The Chariot's wheels fell off yet again for the 3rd time in a row. And this time at home in front of 82,000 of their own people. How utterly embarrassing! Their slave song failed. Womp, womp.
Wow the English are cry babies. They must hate that every time they hear the Haka they have another loss coming.
Who cares. I would ditch haka at Twickenham.. then you will hear some proper whinging
Why would you suggest ditching it? The only people breaking rules out there were the entire NZ squad advancing way past the 10 metre line.
There’s always an option about the Haka. Let people disrespect it and do what they want. I would love to see a Campese episode where players completely disregard it without having femi-Nazi giving moral values…
Probably not fair to blame the feminists for this one. Just a hunch.
It is not a rugby anthem. It’s a very sad American spiritual sang by disrespectful ignorants.
Balls.
It’s a Christian hymn, composed by an African American Slave. Not the Klu Klux Klan. There’s nothing sad about it at all.
Covered by the likes of Johnny Cash, UB40 and became synonymous with England rugby after fans started singing this in 1987:
The song was playfully attributed to an English Rugby Player with the nickname “chariots”.
Took me two minutes to do this piece of research. If there is anyone who is ignorant it’s hysterical radical left wing leaning snowflakes who get offended for others out of boredom.
Let’s never sing a song composed by a slave - but let’s keep singing national anthems of countries who traded slaves.
Makes perfect sense.
The Haka was not originally a rugby dance either.
What the hell was English rugby thinking by not having someone sing a decent NZ anthem. Pretty poor. Karma
That was a bit weird eh. However, I still vote for the instrumental over the San Diego chick.
that's a pretty poor attempt at gamesmanship. As for the colonial slave song , well words fail.
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.