'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' is one of the most popular songs routinely belted out by fans whenever England play, but Maro Itoje will no longer be one of them.
The two-time British and Irish Lions tourist has previously raised concern with the rugby anthem, which holds its roots in slavery in the United States. Itoje—who was born in London to Nigerian parents—said in 2020 that the background of the song was "complicated, " and he wouldn't begrudge anyone signing it at Twickenham.
That stance appears to have shifted, however, after he admitted he was "naive" to have sung along in the past. Speaking ahead of England's summer tour of Australia, Itoje said he won't be repeating the same mistake in future.
"I’m not going to tell people what they should or shouldn’t do but, personally, I won’t sing this song anymore," the Saracens talisman told French daily L'Equipe. "I sang it before when I was naive and didn’t know its origins but, knowing now the context in the creation of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, it’s not an anthem that I’m going to repeat anymore."
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot was composed by Wallis Willis, an African American slave in the 1800s. The song is believed to have first been introduced at Twickenham in 1987 in tribute to Martin “Chariots” Offiah, though it was later popularised after another black player, Chris Oti, scored a hat-trick against Ireland the following year.
While Itoje previously said he wouldn't support any form of ban, he's also voiced discomfort with the song's origins and its initial transition to Headquarters. He also told the BBC ’s Today : “The context in which it was originally sung was with African American individuals to try and give them strength, give them hope. What makes me uncomfortable was its introduction with it being sung for Martin Offiah, it being sung for Chris Oti, who are obviously two black players that played the game at Twickenham."
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Itoje, 27, has long been considered one of England's stand-out stars and was once again excellent during this year's dismal Six Nations, where Eddie Jones ' side won just two games for the second straight year. Itoje also made the four-man shortlist for the 2021 World Rugby Player of the Year prize but was pipped to the post by France terror Antoine Dupont.
As well as being one of his generation's elite rugby talents, Itoje has also grown into his role as an activist and public campaigner. He's been vocal in his support for the Black Lives Matter movement and regularly promotes African art and culture.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) conducted a review of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot's use in 2020 and opted not to ban the song, concluding most fans were unaware of its origins. The same can't be said for players like Itoje, however, which might encourage England's rugby body to revisit its position on the matter.
