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'Very poor tweet' - British Airways tackled over England vs Wales pre-match message
By Ian Cameron
British Airways have courted controversy after wishing England good luck in their Autumn Nations Cup match against Wales.
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The UK’s national carrier have apologised after tweeting ‘Good luck to the England rugby team against Wales today’, seemingly forgetting that they are the defacto national carrier of Wales too.
It triggered a lot of Welsh folk on Twitter, who were at pains to point that Wales was still very much part of Britain. British Airways deleted the Tweet and apologised, saying – not unlike one of Eddie Jones’ England defenders – that they had “unintentionally strayed offside”.
Wales’ Health Minister Vaughan Gething tweeted: “Good way to annoy 3m+ potential customers”.
Good way to annoy 3m+ potential customers @British_Airways https://t.co/l8lv4DDYCg
— Vaughan Gething (@vaughangething) November 28, 2020
“British Airways wishing England luck against Wales in the rugby today is better than any other advert I’ve seen for Welsh independence.”
“Cheers lads.”
British Airways wishing England luck against Wales in the rugby today is better than any other advert I've seen for Welsh independence.
Cheers lads. pic.twitter.com/f7ssmazhmS
— Gav Murphy (@cymrogav) November 28, 2020
The official account of the YesCymru, who advocate Welsh independence, were quick to use the opportunity to make a political point.
“To be clear, even when Wales becomes independent, it will still be a constituent part of the island of Britain.
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“Your brand isn’t “UK Airways,” it’s “British Airways.”
“Regardless, we’ve had enough of this unequal, broken “union.”
To be clear, even when Wales becomes independent, it will still be a constituent part of the island of Britain.
Your brand isn’t “UK Airways,” it’s “British Airways.”
Regardless, we’ve had enough of this unequal, broken “union.”
It’s time for change:https://t.co/gzSrMF2eg4
— YesCymru ??????? (@YesCymru) November 28, 2020
“I know BA sponsor England, but they could of just left it at “Good Luck to the England Rugby team”. It’s the “against Wales” that isn’t very “British”… Well actually it’s seems to be the case as of late.”
I know BA sponsor England, but they could of just left it at "Good Luck to the England Rugby team". It's the "against Wales" that isn't very "British"… Well actually it's seems to be the case as of late
— Steven Williams (@Steverowilliams) November 28, 2020
Very poor tweet .. I always thought I was British #Wales
— Tim ….??????? (@timdobbsphoto) November 28, 2020
"British" Airways tweet wishing England's rugby team good luck in the game against Wales.
Looks like Johnson is running your digital PR.
All I can say is the quicker the Union breaks the better.
— Mark Thomas (@markthomasinfo) November 28, 2020
Good luck to @British_Airways today dealing with the avalanche of furious Welsh people! ????????? https://t.co/PsVogIFdG2
— Carrie Harper ??????? (@CarrieAHarper) November 28, 2020
In 2018 England Rugby and British Airways formed a new partnership which will saw the airline become the inaugural principal partner to Twickenham Stadium, as well as a principal partner and official airline partner to England Rugby.
RugbyPass columnist Andy Goode isn’t giving Wales much hope, regardless of British Airways blunder. “For the first time in many years there does seem to be a significant difference between the two sides on paper and Wales’ best bet might be to hope for an absolute downpour, which hasn’t been forecast, to level the playing field a bit.
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“I just don’t see any area where the home side has the edge and when you add the massive contrast in confidence between the two sides at the moment into the mix as well, it could be the biggest margin of victory for England in this fixture since the hammering in a World Cup warm-up back in 2007.”
"I just don’t see any area where the home side has the edge"
ICYMI: Andy Goode on why England will hammer Wales today #WALvENG https://t.co/cfDvZes8IU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 28, 2020
