WATCH: ‘Unsavoury’ scenes as England fans fight ahead of Rugby World Cup quarter-final

Jared Wright
England Rugby fans fight ahead of Rugby World Cup match.

England Rugby fans fight ahead of Rugby World Cup match.

Tempers flared ahead of England’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Fiji, with a fight breaking out before the match.

It is unclear what caused the brawl between fans before the game, but those involved were removed from the stadium after the distasteful scenes.

The Good, The Bad & The Rugby posted a video of the incident on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, with the caption, “Unsavoury scenes at Stade Velodrome as several England fans are removed for fighting.”

England fight at Rugby World Cup quarter-final

In the clip, the two groups of fans are seen throwing punches, with one fan even lifted and thrown over another’s head and colliding with another group of seated fans.

The reactions on X slammed those involved, with one saying it is ‘a national embarrassment.’

Others were quick to hit back at rugby fans who slate football fans for their behaviour at matches.

“Hang on, thought it was only football fans. That’s some judo throw,” one reaction read.

Another sarcastically added: “You don’t get that in football”.

One joked that the “New Pirates of the Caribbean film looks surprisingly low budget.”

England progress to the semi-finals

The action on the pitch was just as brutal, with England securing a hard-fought 30-24 victory over Fiji to seal their place in the semi-finals of the tournament.

England held a 21-10 lead at half-time before Fiji fought their way back into the game.

Captain Owen Farrell slotted a drop goal and a late penalty to put England ahead after Fiji levelled the scores with a Villimoni Botitu try in the 68th minute.

Fiji had a late chance to score, but Steve Borthwick’s charges successfully shut out the Pacific Islanders, who famously defeated the Red Rose in their pre-Rugby World Cup clash at Twickenham.

READ MORE: Owen Farrell drop goal helps England edge fantastic Fiji to book Rugby World Cup semi-final spot