National Anthems

[Don Quixote]

Why is the Rugby anthem of "England" God Save The Queen? Surely that's the anthem of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and NOT England!!!

[searchme]

Because England is the boss-simple as that.

[Lonnie]

Its actually the Nat/Anthem only of England, if you look at it in its entirety, one of the verses talks about crushing the rebellious Scots.

[emandvee]

When I went to school Wales was not in the United Kingdom!!

[jgs]

England is anything but 'the boss'. Unlike Scotland and Wales, England doesn't have it's own Parliament/ Assembly, therefore, no say. (See the link below)

www.thecep.org.uk

As for the anthem, I received this recently:-

You wrote regarding the anthems played when England play international rugby at Twickenham.

England play God Save the Queen as it is the National Anthem of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of which England is part. There is no English, Welsh or Scottish National Anthem. The Scottish Rugby Union and the Welsh Rugby Union request that, in addition to the National Anthem, a separate "Rugby Anthem" is played and as a courtesy to our visitors we comply with this request.

It is entirely a matter for the SRU and the WRU that, when they play other nations at home, they choose not to play their National Anthem (God Save the Queen) but rather choose to play their "Rugby Anthem".

I should also add that HM The Queen is the Patron of the Rugby Football Union.

Thank you for taking the trouble to contact the RFU. Your feedback is appreciated.

John Vaughan
Council Services Manager
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Mob: [phone]
[email protected]
www.rfu.com

[Grunty]

emandvee must have gone to school centuries ago.

[searchme]

jgs-an excellent riposte-but seriously, the Scottish Parliament,The Welsh Assembly!!!!

Do you know the story of the Emperor's New Clothes?

[Haggisdj]

It's only in the last 10 years, since Euro 96, that English fans have stopped using the Union Jack and started to use the St George cross. It's because, unlike Scotland andWales, England has no identity...

[Octavius]

England itself does not have a national anthem. Officially God Save the Queen should be played for all member nations of the UK and Commonwealth (incl Canada & Oz etc). But national songs have been allowed to replace this "patriotism" ( and I don't disagree with that ) so you have Flower of Scotland, Irelands Call and Land of My Fathers. Personally I think they are all better than the dreary tune we have, but there you go.

[Pippa68]

I could have sworn I heard 'Danny Boy' sung by an irish team of some sorts a while back..but maybe that was actually Eire & didn't include Northern Ireland?

I would prefer to hear English teams singing 'Jerusalem' however I think it has been deemed racist. 'God Save The Queen' is the most dreariest thing I have ever heard in a national anthem, so a change would be nice. I prefer to join in with 'Star Spangled Banner'!!

Oh, & nit-pick..sorry. It is actually called the Union Flag, not Union Jack (which is displayed on ships) although I have to say I much prefer to see the St George cross at England matches now, as viewing the Union Flag at those events was making me yell ;o)

[Don Quixote]

Thanks to all those that offered an explanation.
I, too, would like to see England being more �English� and less �UK� - flag of St George, their own �English� anthem (whether �Jerusalem� or �Swing Low Sweet Chariot�), and leave the Union Flag and �God Save The Queen� for things which are wholly UK.

[THECORBYLOON]

Pippa68 it may have been the Commonwealth Games that you heard Londonderry Air played for the Ulster team. I think the English use Land of Hope and Glory at the Commonwealth Games.

[Pippa68]

Aaaah ~ thank you very much for that info corbyloon :o) isn't 'Land Of Hope & Glory' frowned upon nowadays?

[mickf62]

Land of hope and glory by Edward elgar or 'pomp and circumstance' to give its real name was commissioned by king Edward V11 in 1901 to be the anthem of England and this is why it is played at the common wealth games. God Save the Queen is the musical equivalent of the union jack ie the anthem of the UK as a whole whether you think you are in it or not.

[Claireabelle]

I thought it was "swing low, sweet chariot"? But, still don't know why that song. Any thoughts? Mind you, being a scot I am pleased and proud to say that I think we are the most patriotic nationality. Anyone who has been in attendance at a scottish wedding/hogmanay event will testify to having many toes stood upon whilst dancing (stomping!) to RunRig's "loch lomond" or the Proclaimers "500 miles"!

I was always of the thought that "god save the queen" was supposed to be a UK anthem, not just England claiming it as their own...?

[MyScoobee]

And why are the anthems at the Commonwealth Games different to the Rugby and Football.

That said, I just wish that England had a better anthem, talk about funereal. Any suggestions?

And why is it 'Great' Britain, nobody else needs to advertise, how vain are we?