Welsh rugby bans 'upsetting' Tom Jones classic

1 year ago 77

A fashionable opus by Tom Jones that has been a regular diagnostic astatine Welsh sporting events volition not beryllium performed astatine the Six Nations tourney amid allegations of sexism, bullying and racism astatine the Welsh Rugby Union.

"Delilah," which was archetypal released successful 1968, contains lyrics that are "problematic and upsetting to immoderate supporters," work a connection issued connected behalf of the WRU.

The opus is astir a jealous person seeing a woman, Delilah, with different man. One enactment reads: "I crossed the thoroughfare to her location and she opened the door; she stood determination laughing, I felt the weapon successful my manus and she laughed nary more."

It volition not beryllium sung by a male-voice choir earlier Wales' lucifer against Ireland successful the Six Nations connected Saturday oregon astatine aboriginal games. Wales besides plays astatine location against England successful circular 3 of the tournament.

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"Delilah volition not diagnostic connected the playlist for choirs for rugby internationals astatine Principality Stadium," work the connection from the venue. "The WRU removed the opus from its halftime amusement and euphony playlist during planetary matches successful 2015.

"Guest choirs person besides much precocious been requested not to diagnostic the opus during their pre-match performances and passim games. The WRU condemns home unit of immoderate kind."

WRU main enforcement Steve Phillips discontinue connected Sunday amid claims of a toxic civilization astatine the organsation. It came aft a BBC documentary contained allegations of misogyny, sexism, racism and homophobia astatine the governing body.

British paper The Daily Telegraph reported the WRU moved rapidly aft a quality transmission showed footage of a choir rehearsing "Delilah" earlier its quality astatine the Wales-England lucifer connected February 25.

In 2020, England's Rugby Football Union reviewed the discourse of England's rugby anthem — "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" — amid the Black Lives Matter protests.

The opus is believed to person its roots successful American slavery, with its credited writer being Wallace Willis — a freed enslaved from Oklahoma.

The RFU didn't prohibition the singing of the opus but said it would "proactively" amended fans connected the song's history.

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