No ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ ban

Rugby: The Rugby Football Union (RFU) will not ban England fans from singing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot but will educate them on the history of the song and its links with American slavery, the domestic governing body said yesterday.

The anthem, believed to have been written by a slave in the mid19th century, became a mainstay with England supporters in the 1980s and the RFU in June launched a review into its use following the Black Lives Matter protests.

The RFU said it would release a short documentary on the song’s history which will feature prominent current and former Black, Asian and minority ethnic England players. — Reuters