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Rugby World Cup Fans Back Petition For ITV To Replace Paloma Faith's 'Excruciatingly Awful' Theme Music

Paloma Faith's Rugby World Cup Song Is Annoying Fans So Much They've Started A Revolt
Sophie Brown
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A disgruntled rugby fan has started a petition calling for ITV to drop Paloma Faith's "excruciatingly awful" Rugby World Cup theme music.

Jonathan Wilson took to Change.org to start the campaign shortly after the first game between England and Fiji, in which the song was played during the opening credits and briefly during each advertisement break. It will re-appear during every match of the Rugby World Cup.

In a letter to ITV Sport on the petition page, Wilson writes: "We, the undersigned, request that you, ITV, remove Paloma Faith from the Rugby World Cup in order to make it a more enjoyable experience for all spectators."

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Wilson, a 'big rugby fan', told Huffington Post UK: "My dislike for Paloma Faith's rendition of 'World in Union' was immediate. I just couldn't believe that an ITV producer heard that recording somewhere and thought to themselves: 'that's the missing link in our World Cup coverage.'

"I've never actually heard a Paloma Faith song before so I have no previous with her, but this particular one is so garbled and wince-inducing that upon hearing it I immediately searched for a petition that I could sign to have it removed.

"I was astonished to find that such a thing did not exist, so took it upon myself to rectify that."

The 'World In Union' song is performed by a different star for every tournament, with previous performers including Russell Watson, Katherine Jenkins and Rhydian Roberts.

And it's not just Wilson that finds Faith's rendition difficult to listen to -- there are currently over 1,700 signatures on the petition.

One signatory, Di Young commented: "it's just gratingly awful". Another, James Byrne, said: "It is awful. Truly awful. And I like Paloma Faith..."

Bill Cowen said: "No discernible sincerity. She so obviously doesn't connect with what it means. She's turned it into a pop song... Ugh"

Others took to Twitter to express their dismay...

A spokesperson for ITV Sport said: “We are happy with Paloma’s rendition.”

Rugby World Cup: England Fiji opening game
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Fiji's Waisea Nayacalevu, left, tackles England's Jonathan Joseph during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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England's Geoff Parling reaches up for the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Spectators cheer ahead of the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Fiji's Nemani Nadolo gestures to the crowd during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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England's Anthony Watson, right, is tackled by Fiji's Nemani Nadolo during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Fiji's Dominiko Waqaniburotu, left, and England's Courtney Lawes compete for a line out during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Fiji's Leone Nakarawa wins the ball in a line up during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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England's Mike Brown, second right, is congratulated after scoring a try during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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England's Anthony Watson runs with the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Rugby players that have previously played in the world cup tournament take part in the opening ceremony ahead of the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Britain's Prince Harry and World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset, right, speak during the opening ceremony ahead of the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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The opening ceremony ahead of the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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The opening ceremony ahead of the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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The opening ceremony ahead of the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Members of the military attend the opening ceremony ahead of the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A giant rugby ball is unveiled during the opening ceremony ahead of the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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The opening ceremony ahead of the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Fireworks are set off during the opening ceremony ahead of the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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England fans wearing costumes gesture ahead of the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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An England fan wearing a costume smiles ahead of the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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England fans wearing costumes smile ahead of the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Fiji's scrum-half Nikola Matawalu (R) attempts and fails to score a try as he loses control of the ball next to England's fullback Mike Brown (L) during a Pool A match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between England and Fiji at Twickenham stadium in south west London on September 18, 2015. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNISRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE, NO USE IN LIVE MATCH TRACKING SERVICES, TO BE USED AS NON-SEQUENTIAL STILLS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ADRIAN DENNIS via Getty Images)
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Fiji's scrum-half Nikola Matawalu attempts and fails to score a try as he loses control of the ball during a Pool A match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between England and Fiji at Twickenham stadium in south west London on September 18, 2015. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNISRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE, NO USE IN LIVE MATCH TRACKING SERVICES, TO BE USED AS NON-SEQUENTIAL STILLS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ADRIAN DENNIS via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 18: Referee Jaco Peyper of South Africa awards a penalty try during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium on September 18, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images) (credit:Richard Heathcote - World Rugby via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 18: Nemani Nadolo of Fiji crashes into Tom Youngs and Chris Robshaw of England during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium on September 18, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jan Hendrik Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Jan Hendrik Kruger via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 18: Mike Brown of England goes over to score the second try during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium on September 18, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Paul Gilham via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 18: Mike Brown of England goes over to score the second try during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium on September 18, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images) (credit:Richard Heathcote - World Rugby via Getty Images)
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England's fullback Mike Brown (R) reacts after scoring a try during a Pool A match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between England and Fiji at Twickenham stadium in south west London on September 18, 2015. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALLRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE, NO USE IN LIVE MATCH TRACKING SERVICES, TO BE USED AS NON-SEQUENTIAL STILLS (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:BEN STANSALL via Getty Images)
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England's winger Anthony Watson (L) is tackled during a Pool A match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between England and Fiji at Twickenham stadium in south west London on September 18, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFERESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE, NO USE IN LIVE MATCH TRACKING SERVICES, TO BE USED AS NON-SEQUENTIAL STILLS (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:FRANCK FIFE via Getty Images)
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England's fullback Mike Brown (C) reacts after scoring a try during a Pool A match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between England and Fiji at Twickenham stadium in south west London on September 18, 2015. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALLRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE, NO USE IN LIVE MATCH TRACKING SERVICES, TO BE USED AS NON-SEQUENTIAL STILLS (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:BEN STANSALL via Getty Images)
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England's fullback Mike Brown (C) celebrates scoring a try during a Pool A match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between England and Fiji at Twickenham stadium in south west London on September 18, 2015. AFP PHOTO BEN STANSALLRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE, NO USE IN LIVE MATCH TRACKING SERVICES, TO BE USED AS NON-SEQUENTIAL STILLS (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:BEN STANSALL via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 18: George Ford of England converts the ball during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium on September 18, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images) (credit:Richard Heathcote - World Rugby via Getty Images)
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Fiji's Nikola Matawalu makes a break during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickeham stadium in London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (credit:Alastair Grant/AP)
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England's Mike Brown celebrates scoring his side's first try during the Rugby World Cup match at Twickenham Stadium, London. (credit:Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
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England's captain Chris Robshaw gestures during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickeham stadium in London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (credit:Alastair Grant/AP)
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Fiji's Metuisela Talebula is tackled by England's Dan Cole during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickeham stadium in London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (credit:Alastair Grant/AP)
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Fiji's Ben Volavola misses a penalty during the Rugby World Cup match at Twickenham Stadium, London. (credit:David Davies/PA Wire)
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Fiji win a lineout during the Rugby World Cup match at Twickenham Stadium, London. (credit:David Davies/PA Wire)
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England head coach Stuart Lancaster during the Rugby World Cup match at Twickenham Stadium, London. (credit:David Davies/PA Wire)
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