England’s second rugby team will no longer be called The Saxons, because woke rugby bosses feel that the term is inappropriate and doesn’t reflect the diversity in society.
Saxons is a name commonly used to describe white people. The Rugby Football Union has decided to call the second team England A instead. The team adopted the nickname The Saxons in 2006.
The RFU feels that as there are more black and minority people playing rugby these days, Saxons is no longer appropriate and might cause offence. The same RFU has been encouraging fans not to sing Swing Low Sweet Chariot because of its links to slavery.
According to The Mail Online:
The RFU says it hopes it can discourage supporters from singing it in the stands by educating fans about its roots in slavery. Its popularity began in the 1980s when fans first sang it after black players such as Martin Offiah scored a try.
One of the game’s biggest stars Maro Itoje (pictured) has already expressed doubts about the anthem.
In an exclusive interview with Sportsmail, he said: ‘I don’t think anyone at Twickenham is singing it with malicious intent, but the background of that song is complicated.’
Martin Offiah said today that he supported the Saxons name change but the RFU must still do ‘something more substantial’, especially at the top of the game.
He said: ‘Adding names like Saxons probably was a bit misguided. It’s a gesture that we’re going in the right direction but gestures need to have something more substantial behind it. Are we going to see a black coach of the England rugby union team, more black board members? How many black people are involved in the commercial department? Those are the conversations we need to have.’
Martin Offiah is ridiculous. You don’t end discrimination by discriminating. Recruitment is either colour-blind or it isn’t. Offiah has no sense of irony or self-awareness. He had a brilliant career. His ethnicity was no barrier to his success. He played for his country because he was the best player in his position. Colour was irrelevant
Maro itoje is just silly. If the fans are not singing Swing Low Sweet Chariot with malicious intent, why ask them to refrain from singing it? Are we really to believe that black rugby fans are offended by it?
This woke nonsense has to stop. The only way to do that is to ignore these clowns. Somebody obviously contacted the RFU to request dropping the name Saxons. The RFU should have issued a two word reply, the second word being off.
