International sport often boils down to tribalism, with rivalries between neighbouring countries that go back decades, if not longer.
It can often lead to groups of supporters reverting to outdated stereotypes, or the use of dated references in the media under the guise of pre-match banter.
Actual front page of the Daily Mirror in the lead up to the Euro 96 semi-final between Germany & England. Whoah. pic.twitter.com/J018laTWjT
— Melinda Hildebrandt (@DrMel76) May 20, 2015
If you go to any pub during the Six Nations, you’ll often see a friendly – or sometimes not so friendly – rivalry between the home nations, if not between all the countries competing.
With that in mind, one can’t help but think the BBC Wales promo video for Saturday’s match against England is relatively tame by comparison.
If anything, it demonstrates an approach often lacking from sports promos, which by and large err on the side of caution.
However, it has not gone down well with some England supporters, with the level of backlash to the video below convincing the broadcaster to pull the clip.
BBC Wales has had to pull this ad for the #SixNations because of complaints from wee crybaby English Rugby fans… #SillySeason pic.twitter.com/xwTuzknSK8
— 🍔 Gastro Celtic 🍀 (@Gastro_Celtic) February 9, 2017
“No offence was intended,” BBC Wales’ Richard Thomas said.
“It was meant to be tongue in cheek but clearly didn’t hit the right note.”
But there were plenty of complaints, from English and Welsh fans.
Really unimpressed with @BBCWales trailer for #WALvENG Outdated, immature, insular, xenophobic, rabble-rousing, provocative nonsense.
— Jason Harris 🏴🏴☠️🇵🇸 (@LargeRugby) February 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/_ALACS/status/829624648019091456
pitiful. Imagine the (deserved) furore if this ad was the other way round. Please pull this
— Robert Rea (@robertrea) February 9, 2017
as a Welshman this trailer is an embarrassment. Not funny and not banter.
— Mark D (@Atticus_75) February 8, 2017
Not everyone agreed, of course, with plenty seeing it as just a bit of harmless fun.
Don't understand the uproar over @BBCWales rugby ad, must be the overly sensitive english
— sam (@TwmbarlwmSam) February 9, 2017
@BBCWales The furore over your funny ad is ridiculous! UNLIKE #EddieJones you didnt label England as a small town #hypocrisythynameisEngland
— Gordon 🥐🧀🍻 (@22Beardface) February 10, 2017
@bbc5live I'm English and thought the BBC Wales trailer was brilliant. Very funny.
— Paul Excell (@PaulExcell) February 10, 2017
.@BBCWales should have been allowed to keep running that 6 Nations trailer. English though I am it was pretty funny.
— Al H (@Al_roar) February 10, 2017
I liked the (now withdrawn) @BBCWales “What’s good about England?” rugby trailer; typical over-reaction from Twitter complaining about it 🙄
— Dave Jones (@WelshGasDoc) February 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/SadieOlivia_/status/829680408426053636
