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England drop Saxons name ahead of next month's revival of their A team
By PA
The England A team will no longer be known as the Saxons after the Rugby Football Union decided the name is inappropriate. The RFU believes the title, which was introduced in 2006 before that year's Churchill Cup, is out of date and fails to reflect the diversity in English rugby.
England A will play their Scotland counterparts in Leicester on June 27 in their first outing since touring South Africa five years ago. “We have chosen to revert to the traditional name of England A for this fixture against Scotland A as a better representation of our team today,” an RFU spokesperson said about the end to the use of the Saxons name.
The move comes after outgoing RFU chairman Andy Cosslett stated that Twickenham must “step up its efforts to improve diversity and inclusion across our game”.
Last month it was announced that an independent diversity and inclusion advisory group overseen by former England and Lions wing Ugo Monye was being set up. The RFU also distanced itself from the Swing Low, Sweet Chariot anthem sung in support of the England team at Twickenham in recognition of its origins in slavery.
The England A team outing versus the Scottish, which is scheduled for the day after the Gallagher Premiership final, will take place prior to the two July Tests in which Eddie Jones' side will take on the USA and Canada at Twickenham.
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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