Freddie Steward, a member of the England rugby team, discussed a viral TikTok dance video featuring him and three teammates—Fin Smith, Henry Pollock, and Tommy Freeman. The clip, which shows the players performing a choreographed routine, gained 12 million views and 1.5 million likes shortly after England’s 33-19 victory over New Zealand on November 15 at Allianz Stadium. Steward clarified that the footage was filmed before the match and was intended as a light-hearted activity, not a taunt directed at the New Zealand team.
Steward emphasized that the video package was meant to be humorous and originated as a fun activity while they were in camp, stating it was never intended for social media. He expressed disappointment with Freeman for posting the video after the match, which he felt was poorly timed and gave the wrong impression. The video was created as a way to cope with the boredom experienced during downtime in training.
England recently extended their winning streak to eleven Tests with a 27-23 victory over Argentina. They are set to face Wales at Twickenham on February 7 as they prepare for the upcoming Six Nations tournament.
- Why it matters: The viral nature of the video highlights the intersection of sports and social media, showing how player engagement can attract younger audiences to rugby.
- With ongoing public interest, rugby organizations may consider strategies to enhance digital engagement and fan interaction.
- The latest: England will compete against Wales on February 7 as they build momentum for the Six Nations tournament.
Source: https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/471700/englands-freddie-steward-says-viral-tiktok-dance-was-meant-to-be-private-and-not-a-taunt/
Source: https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/471700/englands-freddie-steward-says-viral-tiktok-dance-was-meant-to-be-private-and-not-a-taunt/