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'Furious': X erupts as England fans drown out haka with controversial rugby anthem

Jamie George and players of England look on as Codie Taylor of New Zealand leads the Haka prior to the Autumn Nations Series 2025 match between England and New Zealand All Blacks at the Allianz Stadium on November 02, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

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!”

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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Comments

106 Comments
R
RW 27 days ago

My view.

NZ: Do the haka

Opponents :

Do what ever you want in response

And world rugby

Butt out

J
JW 28 days ago

How do you drown out the Haka?

B
BH 28 days ago

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.

H
Head high tackle 28 days ago

Wow the English are cry babies. They must hate that every time they hear the Haka they have another loss coming.

B
Bruiser 28 days ago

Who cares. I would ditch haka at Twickenham.. then you will hear some proper whinging

R
RedWarrior 28 days ago

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.

P
Pabst 28 days ago

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…

R
RedWarrior 28 days ago

Probably not fair to blame the feminists for this one. Just a hunch.

C
Carlos 28 days ago

It is not a rugby anthem. It’s a very sad American spiritual sang by disrespectful ignorants.

B
Bull Shark 28 days ago

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:


But archive footage has now been found of it being sung at Twickenham in 1987 when Martin "Chariots" Offiah played.


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.

R
RedWarrior 28 days ago

The Haka was not originally a rugby dance either.

G
GG 28 days ago

What the hell was English rugby thinking by not having someone sing a decent NZ anthem. Pretty poor. Karma

J
Jen 28 days ago

That was a bit weird eh. However, I still vote for the instrumental over the San Diego chick.

d
d 28 days ago

that's a pretty poor attempt at gamesmanship. As for the colonial slave song , well words fail.

B
Bull Shark 28 days ago

Now THAT was disrespectful @Hellhound


Even AB players shook their head when the NZ anthem started without any direction.

S
SadersMan 28 days ago

A beer for breakfast & another one for dessert. Well done All Blacks, ka mau te wehi.

R
RedWarrior 28 days ago

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?

D
DrinkAwayTheConcussion 28 days ago

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.

S
SadersMan 28 days ago

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.

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M
Mzilikazi 5 hours ago
'Welsh regional rugby has failed conclusively and there is no way back'

Thanks for the very comprehensive response, Rob. I have held off responding till I had seen the match v the WB's, and had a better look at Sam. I was interested that you knew him at Uni, played with him.


I thought overall he had a very good game. Was especially impressed by his passing, the timing and accuracy. Very good long passer. He kicks well out of hand, and strikes the ball well off the tee. His one miss could have been costly, but I would not put too much on that.


I did feel he did not pose a running threat, did to carry into contact enough, so the WB's defence was spared that worry.


I fully agree with you that Cullen now needs to give Sam and extended run at 10 for Leinster, not necessarily starting him in every game, but making sure he always gets significant game time, week in, week out.


I'm interested in your comment "if he had a bit more pace he’d have the potential to have sextons brains and bods skills." That would be some combination !


I also had a look at his background. I knew he was a Newbridge College lad, and see he played for them in the Cup Campaign that was never finished due to Covid restrictions. I remember that year well....pity as that was an all Kildare Final, with Clongowes the opponent. The big Dublin schools for once not featuring.


Same happened up in Ulster, two schools outside Belfast in the Final...Wallace and Armagh Royal. I follow Armagh from out here in Qld, as Kenny Hooks(6 caps for Ireland) had built a small school up to being one of the best in Ulster over 40 plus years coaching there. I coached Kenny for five years...Medallion/U 15 and first XV.. at Bangor GS.


Signing off, just hope and pray Sam Prendergast remains free of any serious injury, and we see him develop over the next 10 plus years.

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