Thousands of English rugby fans make the short hop to Ireland this weekend, hoping to see their team complete a perfect Six NationsAn annual international rugby tournament held between England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, and Italy. England have won the last two competitions. and win a record-breaking 19 games in a row.

And there is one song they will sing more than any other - including God Save the Queen.

"Swing low, sweet chariot. Coming for to carry me home."

To the English ear, it conjures up memories of stunning victories on the rugby field. It is a boisterous drinking anthem, dating from 1988 when it was first sung en masse at TwickenhamThe 82,000 capacity home of English rugby..

But Swing Lown is, in fact, an American slave spiritual, whose "forlorn lyrics invoke the darkness of slavery and the sustained oppression of a race," according to Andrew Keh in The New York Times.

Spirituals are religious songs of the US South, derived from slaves combining European hymns and African music. Their lyrics fused Christian values with the hardships of slavery.

So is it right for England fans to sing a song loaded with memories of suffering and racism?

According to Josephine Wright, an American professor of music and black studies, the answer is "no". She has accused rugby fans of cultural appropriation - the adoption of elements of one culture into another without knowledge of their history. Wright says it "betrays a total lack of understanding of the historical context in which those songs were created by the American slave".

Then RFUStands for Rugby Football Union., English rugby's governing body, believes there is a sufficient disconnect between its origins and when it is sung in support of the team. England's Mako Vunipola, who is of TonganTonga is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean whose rugby team consistently performs above expectations. descent, accepted that some might find it offensive, but urged England fans to carry on singing it to encourage the team on.

But Professor John M. Williams believes that such a view does not reflect a larger debate occurring in the rugby community. "The typical crowd that goes to watch England is not likely to think hard about these questions or spend much time worrying about political correctness," he said.

"Get a grip and let us sing what we want", say many rugby fanatics. Cultural overlap is both inevitable and beneficial, and most England fans are well aware of the song's origins. People must be free to broaden their horizons without being paralysed by the prospect of offending a few thin-skinned people. It is only a song.

It is very easy to dismiss these complaints if you are a white, English rugby fan, say others. This is a serious, mournful song, and it is clearly inappropriate for a bunch of boozy rugby fans to sing it without a second's thought for its origins. They are trivialising the suffering of millions, whether they mean it or not.

Six Nations - An annual international rugby tournament held between England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, and Italy. England have won the last two competitions.

Twickenham - The 82,000 capacity home of English rugby.

RFU - Stands for Rugby Football Union.

Tongan - Tonga is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean whose rugby team consistently performs above expectations.