Choirs performing at Welsh international rugby matches at the Principality Stadium have been banned from singing Tom Jones’ famous song ‘Delilah’. The hit song released in 1968 has been a popular anthem for Welsh rugby fans over the last decades.
The song portrays a woman named Delilah who is having an affair with another man. The verses show her partner following her and becoming jealous. Her partner confronts her about the affair and she is later murdered by him.
The song was banned from half-time playlists in 2015, but the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) have now announced, ‘Delilah will not feature on the playlist for choirs for rugby internationals at Principality Stadium,’ ‘Guest choirs have also more recently been requested not to feature the song during their pre-match performances and throughout games.’
‘The WRU condemns domestic violence of any kind. We have previously sought advice from subject matter experts on the issue of censoring the song and we are respectfully aware that it is problematic and upsetting to some supporters because of its subject matter.’
The banning of the song occurred as allegations were made in a recent BBC documentary about a toxic culture permeating through the WRU. The accusations included racism, homophobia and sexism.
The chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, Steve Phillips, was forced to resign after allegations of sexism, misogyny and racism within the organisation surfaced. This occurred as he had faced pressure over the governing body’s handling of the issues raised in the programme.
Two women complained of a “toxic culture”, while another former employee heard a racist term used in a work meeting. Former head of Wales women’s rugby Charlotte Wathan said she considered suicide and claimed a male colleague joked in front of others in an office environment that he wanted to “rape” her.
Some people disagree with the decision. Fellow domestic abuse campaigner Rachel Williams, who survived a shotgun attack by her estranged husband, said she believed education surrounding violence against women was better than banning the content that featured it.
She said: “I loved the song [Delilah], but stopped singing it when I realised it was about glorifying the murder of a woman.
Tom Giffard, Welsh Conservative shadow sport minister, said people want “institutional change, improved working practices and a better complaints process for the WRU”.
“Instead they are choosing to ban a much loved Tom Jones song. This action will solve nothing.”
Cardiff West Labour MP for Kevin Brennan said: “I understand why people don’t like that song, but I think it’s a distraction from the really serious issues we ought to be talking about in rugby.”
The Old Arcade pub in Cardiff, a popular match day venue for rugby fans, tweeted: “We will be playing Delilah... it will be loud...”