Maro Itoje responds to calls for Swing Low, Sweet Chariot to be banned

Rugby News
Tuesday, 30 June 2020 at 12:24
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Maro Itoje has revealed that the origins of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot make him feel 'uncomfortable' but has serious doubts over whether the England rugby song should be banned.
He told the BBC: 'The context in which it was originally sung was with African American individuals where they were singing it as a song to try and give them strength, give them hope. 
'What makes me uncomfortable was its introduction with it being a song for Martin Offiah, with it being sung for Chris Oti, which are obviously two black players who played the game at Twickenham. 
'It’s a great opportunity to educate people about the context of that song.'
He added: 'I’m not too sure if banning works because you can’t really regulate what comes out of people’s mouths but I think people should be educated about the background of the song and it will then be down to any individual if they want to sing it or not.'

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British & Irish Lions predicted 2021 starting XV according to the bookies

You can view the full odds from Paddy Power HERE.
Odds are accurate on Wednesday, 22nd April 2020, 8am, and are subject to change. 

Fullback: LIAM WILLIAMS (Wales 4/7)

Other contenders: Stuart Hogg (Scotland 4/6), Jordan Larmour (Ireland EVS), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales 5/1), George Furbank (England 7/2)
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Left wing: JONNY MAY (England 1/25)

Other contenders: Jacob Stockdale (Ireland 1/3), Adam Radwan (England 40/1), Jack Nowell (England 11/4), Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales 13/8)
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Outside-centre: JONATHAN DAVIES (Wales 1/3)

Other contenders: Henry Slade (England 5/6), Garry Ringshow (Ireland 4/6), Jonathan Joseph (England 13/8), Chris Harris (Scotland 20/1), Huw Jones (Scotland 6/1)
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Inside-centre: MANU TUILAGI (England 1/3)

Other contenders: Robbie Henshaw (Ireland 5/6), Hadleigh Parkes (Wales 5/4), Sam Johnson (Scotland 9/2)
2096302

Right wing: JOSH ADAMS (Wales 1/18)

Other contenders: Anthony Watson (England 4/6), George North (Wales 2/1), Elliot Daly (England 10/11), Joe Cokanasiga (England 3/1), Keith Earls (Ireland 9/2)
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Fly-half: OWEN FARRELL (England 1/25)

Other contenders: Johnny Sexton (Ireland 1/2), Dan Biggar (Wales 8/15), Finn Russell (Scotland 3/1), Marcus Smith (England 8/1)
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Scrum-half: CONOR MURRAY (Ireland 4/6)

Other contenders: Tomos Williams (Wales 5/4), Ben Youngs (England 6/4), Ali Price (Scotland 2/1)
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Looshead-prop: MAKO VUNIPOLA (England 4/6)

Other contenders: Ellis Genge (England 1/3), Cian Healy (Ireland 5/6), Joe Marler (England 5/2)
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Hooker: JAMIE GEORGE (England 1/10)

Other contenders: Luke Cowan-Dickie (England 4/6), Ken Owens (Wales 7/4), Stuart McInally (Scotland 7/2)
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Tighthead-prop: Tadhg Furlong (Ireland 1/15)

Other contenders: Kyle Sinckler (England 1/5), Tomas Francis (Wales 11/8), Harry Williams (England 5/1)
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Lock: MATO ITOJE (England 1/10)

Other contenders: James Ryan (Ireland 1/5), Jonny Gray (Scotland 8/11)
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Lock: ALUN WYN JONES (Wales 1/5)

Other contenders: Iain Henderson (Ireland 4/6), Courtney Lawes (England 5/4), George Kruis (England 7/2), Jean Kleyn (Ireland 33/1), Richie Gray (Scotland 5/1)
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Blindside-flanker: TOM CURRY (England 1/7)

Other contenders: Peter O'Mahony (Ireland 7/4), Lewis Ludlam (England 11/4), Jamie Ritchie (Scotland 10/1)
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Openside-flanker: SAM UNDERHILL (England 1/4)

Other contenders: Hamish Watson (Scotland 8/11), James Davies (Wales 10/1)
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Number 8: BILLY VUNIPOLA (England 1/4)

Other contenders: CJ Stander (Ireland 1/3), Taulupe Faletau (Wales 11/10), Ross Moriarty (Wales 5/1)
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