RFU To Review The Use of 'Swing Low,Sweet Chariot' ; Connotations of Slavery ?

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kk20gb30
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Re: RFU To Review The Use of 'Swing Low,Sweet Chariot' ; Connotations of Slavery ?

Post by kk20gb30 »

An interesting choice of song , all things considered for Tom Ilube to take to his 'Desert Island' :

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/ ... -1.4690971
Seemingly heading rapidly toward senility .....Not long or far to go now , in fact, getting worse daily.....
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Re: RFU To Review The Use of 'Swing Low,Sweet Chariot' ; Connotations of Slavery ?

Post by jgriffin »

Cardiff Tig wrote: Mon Jun 22, 2020 9:37 am
mol2 wrote: Mon Jun 22, 2020 8:37 am Rugby union has tended to be much more racially inclusive than many sports and is the class perception more of reflection of the "chip on the shoulder brigde" who are ill informed about rugby union in the majority of England in current times?

Perhaps it was different in the amateur era and perhaps it was different in London (although I have no evidence for that in recent times). More likely it reflects that sport in many state schools has dwindled and rugby has suffered as the kids of today are more attracted to soccer and the wealth and status that comes with it in the eyes of youngsters. Rugby (of either code) is destined to remain a minority sport as kids of today seem less willing to get battered in the name of sport.
I don't think it's ill-informed. Look at the RFU, the club boards, the club coaching teams - the diversity just isn't there. And speak to players like Genge - they will tell you how they feel about inclusivity and rugby and how accessible it is as a sport. I'm not trying to claim this is all on rugby to solve, it's a complex web that runs throughout society - as you suggest, school funding will play a part, etc.

But the RFU has chosen to focus on a song rather than any number of more important issues that need addressing.
We've been on about this for years, how the talented non-white and/or working class kids largely tend to disappear at Colts level, by some miracle. A miracle in a blazer.
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Re: RFU To Review The Use of 'Swing Low,Sweet Chariot' ; Connotations of Slavery ?

Post by VernonAtrium »

So, you're 'offended.' It doesn't mean you're right.
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Re: RFU To Review The Use of 'Swing Low,Sweet Chariot' ; Connotations of Slavery ?

Post by Scott1 »

jgriffin wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 4:35 pm
Cardiff Tig wrote: Mon Jun 22, 2020 9:37 am
mol2 wrote: Mon Jun 22, 2020 8:37 am Rugby union has tended to be much more racially inclusive than many sports and is the class perception more of reflection of the "chip on the shoulder brigde" who are ill informed about rugby union in the majority of England in current times?

Perhaps it was different in the amateur era and perhaps it was different in London (although I have no evidence for that in recent times). More likely it reflects that sport in many state schools has dwindled and rugby has suffered as the kids of today are more attracted to soccer and the wealth and status that comes with it in the eyes of youngsters. Rugby (of either code) is destined to remain a minority sport as kids of today seem less willing to get battered in the name of sport.
I don't think it's ill-informed. Look at the RFU, the club boards, the club coaching teams - the diversity just isn't there. And speak to players like Genge - they will tell you how they feel about inclusivity and rugby and how accessible it is as a sport. I'm not trying to claim this is all on rugby to solve, it's a complex web that runs throughout society - as you suggest, school funding will play a part, etc.

But the RFU has chosen to focus on a song rather than any number of more important issues that need addressing.
We've been on about this for years, how the talented non-white and/or working class kids largely tend to disappear at Colts level, by some miracle. A miracle in a blazer.
You know,you know!
"Rugby isn't a contact sport,ballroom dancing is a contact sport. Rugby is a collision sport" Heyneke Meyer
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Re: RFU To Review The Use of 'Swing Low,Sweet Chariot' ; Connotations of Slavery ?

Post by Redstripeman »

johnthegriff wrote: Fri Jun 19, 2020 11:32 am The song has been sung by rugby fans because someone more than sixty years ago invented certain hand movements to go with it. Yes it is a spiritual but are we to ban the singing of all of them and of Blues music or are we going to say that they can only be sung by black people, will sea shanties be banned because they might have been sung on slave ships?
Slavery was not invented by the British or even the Americans, probably not even by white people, the Romans had slaves in fact I think the word slave comes from the Romans using captured Slav people as forced labour but thousands of years before the Romans as peoples were conquered captives were transported and forced to work.
All lives matter equally, we can do nothing about the past but lets make sure that as we move forward we do it together.
Rugby and soccer have many BAME players many of whom are not British and will move on after their playing days are over but hopefully a percentage of those that intend to stay in the U.K will take coaching qualification and remain in the game as an inspiration to others. There are twelve Premiership clubs that is probably less than fifty senior coaches between them with many fans wanting Southern Hemisphere coaches so not many if any BAME in rugby so far but surely only a matter of time before an Itoji, Sinkler or Lawes is putting themselves forward to share their experience with the next generation.
...take a look at football, more potential managerial places...from a possible 72 there is maybe 2 in a managerial position!!!
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Re: RFU To Review The Use of 'Swing Low,Sweet Chariot' ; Connotations of Slavery ?

Post by Redstripeman »

sapajo wrote: Sat Jun 20, 2020 9:02 am It seems to me that was is essentially being questioned is if it is wrong for a white person to sing a song written by a black person and vice versa. The right to free speech must be preserved as there is no way the singing of this song breeches any laws because if it did the police would take action and not leave it to the RFU.
...it did seem strange that this song should become an anthem for the rugby team.!!!
The big thing is, the singer not being aware of the irony of their action.
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