Delilah Banned From Welsh Rugby Games
WRU caves to pressure after accusations song glorifies domestic violence
Sir Tom Jones' classic song Delilah has been banned from the Welsh rugby games at the Principality Stadium - after accusations that it glorifies domestic violence.
House of Commons standards chief Sir Chris Bryant has long campaigned for the classic Sixties hit to be banned because of its lyrics about abuse towards women.
And now embattled Welsh Rugby Union chiefs removed the song Delilah from its Principality Stadium choirs' playlist.
Sir Tom's 1968 hit is about a jealous lover stabbing his unfaithful partner - and has long been a Welsh rugby anthem.
But it will not be played by bands at the Principality Stadium and not sung by choirs after it was expected to be heard at the first Six Nations in Cardiff against Ireland on Saturday.
The surprise announcement comes after a damning week which saw the WRU come in for intense criticism amid allegations of a "toxic" culture and misogyny.
A spokesperson said: “Delilah will not feature on the playlist for choirs for rugby internationals at Principality Stadium. "
The WRU removed the song from its half-time entertainment and music play list during international matches in 2015. 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 songwriter has previously hit at claims her song incites domestic violence.
Slyvan Whittingham, 78, said men drinking is to blame for domestic abuse.
She said: "Don’t blame Delilah for all this – blame beer.
“The reason there is more domestic violence after rugby matches is because men have been drinking, wives complain about it, and then they get bashed.
“It’s not anything to do with Delilah.”
Rhondda MP Sir Chris Bryant had raised concerns about the Tom Jones song - stating that incidents of domestic violence rise after sports fixtures.
Songwriter Mrs Whittingham, who wrote the classic in two hours, says that Mr Bryant "made up" the idea the song is about a prostitute.
"There is no evidence anywhere that she is a prostitute," she said.
Mr Bryant had said: "It is a simple fact that when there are big international rugby matches on, and sometimes football matches as well, the number of domestic violence incidents rises dramatically.
"I know that some people will say, “Oh, here we go, he’s a terrible spoilsport,” but the truth is that that song is about the murder of a prostitute.
"It goes right to the heart of the issues we are discussing. There are thousands of other songs we could sing."
The Sixties hit is an unofficial anthem with male voice choirs and even Tom himself singing it before every game.
The Welsh Rugby Union had previously defended the singing of the song - but has now caved to pressure. At the time in 2015 a spokesman said: “Within rugby, Delilah has gained prominence through its musicality rather than its lyrics.
“There is, however, plenty of precedent in art and literature, prominently in Shakespearean tragedies for instance, for negative aspects of life to be portrayed.”