“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.”
WRU chief executive Steve Phillips quit Sunday amid claims of a toxic culture at the organization. It came after a BBC documentary contained allegations of misogyny, sexism, racism and homophobia at the governing body.
British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported the WRU moved quickly after a news channel showed footage of a choir rehearsing “Delilah” before its appearance at the Wales-England match on Feb. 25.
In 2020, England’s Rugby Football Union reviewed the context of England’s rugby anthem — “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” — amid the Black Lives Matter protests.
The song is believed to have its roots in American slavery, with its credited author being Wallace Willis — a freed slave from Oklahoma.
The RFU didn’t ban the singing of the song but said it would “proactively” educate fans on the song’s history.
