England rugby team fear patriotic video will upset Scots

Pansy footballers!

The England rugby team is suppressing a patriotic film rallying support for the side due to fears of “political ramifications” including from Scottish nationalists.

Stuart Lancaster, the side’s head coach, said he was concerned that the video, which promotes “English identity”, could prompt claims of “arrogance”.

In comments reported by the Financial Times, Mr Lancaster said the team had been shown the film, which is said to be so emotionally charged that it prompted tears among some of the audience at the private viewing.

He said he had been inspired by the way that other teams, including Wales, played for a “cause”, with the entire country rallying around the national side.

However, he said he feared a backlash if the film, which features former players such as Bill Beaumont and Peter Winterbottom, was released publicly as part of efforts to produce a similar effect in England.

The side will face Scotland in the annual Six Nations tournament in February and there are fears that the film could provoke anger among separatists, particularly in the wake of last month’s independence referendum.

He said: “If you start talking about Englishness you are soon seen as arrogant. We have to make sure we have our feet firmly on the ground and show we are not an arrogant team.”

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