FOLLOWING the Welsh Rugby Union’s decision to prohibit Delilah from playing at the Principality Stadium, Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit stirred some controversy with his remarks on Twitter.
The union was shaken by accusations of sexism and misogyny this week, prompting calls to delete the well-known song, which has come to be associated with Wales rugby matches over the years.
The WRU has now prohibited the choirs at the Principality Stadium from singing “Delilah,” days before the commencement of the Six Nations and an opening match against Ireland in Cardiff. The stadium’s PA system hasn’t played Sir Tom Jones’ 1968 single, about a jealous lover stabbing his unfaithful companion, since 2015, but the choir still sings it prior to kickoff.
The song has already been called for to be banned, most notably by Dafydd Iwan. Some have criticised the move to ban the song now as a symbolic gesture given the seriousness of the claims over the previous week and the cries for change.
Rees-Zammit, who has 22 caps, implied that there were other issues to resolve before the announcement, even if he didn’t specifically mention it in a social media post.
The Gloucester star tweeted: “All the things they need to do and they do that first…”
WRU executives would point to the fact that they have been working hard over the last few days to bring about real change, including organising an outside taskforce to improve the game.
On Wednesday night, the union also unveiled plans for a significant governance reform that will see the Board change to include at least five women.
Rees-Zammit is a member of Warren Gatland’s team, but due to an injury, he probably won’t play until England’s match on February 25.
