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Jeff Harold

3:00 pm 5:00 pm

Current show

Jeff Harold

3:00 pm 5:00 pm

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British Airways ‘sorry’ for posting support for England rugby team against Wales

Written by on 28/11/2020

British Airways (BA) has said sorry after upsetting Welsh rugby fans by wishing the England team “good luck” ahead of the two nations facing each other this weekend.

The UK’s flag carrier posted a tweet in the early hours of Saturday that said: “Good Luck to the England rugby team against Wales today.”

Attached to the tweet was a video with a message in turf patterned text, with a rugby ball motif, saying: “Good Luck England.”

The tweet by the airline, which sponsors the England rugby team, was subsequently deleted.

But it had upset Wales fans, who posted about their disappointment on the social media platform.

Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething tweeted: “Good way to annoy 3m+ potential customers.”

Chris Bryant, the Welsh Labour MP, said whoever had posted the tweet were “utter divots” and added: “How is that right?”

Welsh newsreader Huw Edwards joked: “I love @easyjet.”

For a period, the phrase “English Airways” trended on Twitter as Wales fans jokingly responded to BA’s earlier post.

BA later apologised for “straying offside” with the message.

A statement from the airline said: “We are proud sponsors of England Rugby but on this occasion we unintentionally strayed offside, for which we are sorry.”

(c) Sky News 2020: British Airways ‘sorry’ for posting support for England rugby team against Wales