With ITV bringing us live and exclusive coverage of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, many viewers are asking Who sings the Rugby World Cup theme song?
The channel treats us with a snippet of the tournament’s official anthem before and after the commercial breaks. As always, the song is World In Union with lyrics by Charlie Skarbek. This year, the track is performed by Japanese singer Kiyoe Yoshioka.
Kiyoe is a member of the Japanese three-piece pop-rock band Ikimono-gakari. The song also features on her debut solo album ‘Utairo’.
World In Union was originally recorded for the Rugby World cup in 1991 by Kiri Te Kanawa. The melody is taken from “Thaxted” a hymn tune by English composer Gustav Holst. In 1921 the tune was adapted to fit the poem “I Vow To Thee, My Country”. World In Union has been re-recorded many times for the Rugby World Cup including covers by Shirley Bassey, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Hayley Westenra and Paloma Faith.
Coverage of the Rugby World Cup runs from 20th September through to 02nd November in Japan. ITV also launched a ‘Rise for the Rugby World Cup’ trailer for the event which can be watched here.