Tom Jones song 'Delilah' is banned from rugby matches at Principality Stadium 'due to murderous lyrics'

1 February 2023, 17:14 | Updated: 10 January 2024, 13:37

Tom Jones' 'Delilah' has been banned by Wales rugby
Tom Jones' 'Delilah' has been banned by Wales rugby. Picture: Tom Jones/Ed Sullivan Show/ITV

By Tom Eames

Choirs performing at international rugby matches at the Principality Stadium have been banned from singing the Tom Jones classic song 'Delilah'.

The stadium said it would no longer allow the song to be performed by choirs, having previously removed it from half-time playlists in 2015.

The song's lyrics depict the murder of a woman by her jealous partner.

A stadium spokesman said it was "respectfully aware that it is problematic".

However, the song is not only an iconic Tom Jones song, but it has been popular with supporters of the Wales national team, with Tom previously performing it ahead of an international match.

The song's ban follows soon after the chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union was forced to resign, following allegations of sexism, misogyny and racism within the organisation.

Tom Jones "Delilah" on The Ed Sullivan Show

Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit tweeted: "All the things they need to do and they do that first..."

A Principality Stadium spokesman said: "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.

Tom Jones - Delilah - Wales v England - 17th April 1999

"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."