Rugby World Cup 2023: adjusted versions of the national anthems, still sung by a children's choir

France and "several teams" have agreed to the use of new versions of the national anthems sung by the children's group La Mêlée des Chœurs, reworked songs adjusted by the GIP France 2023 following widespread criticism during the first week of the Rugby World Cup 2023, announced the organisers on 14/09/2023.

The organising committee is therefore abandoning the anthems sung in canon by the Mêlée des Chœurs. "It hasn't worked as well as we'd hoped," said Michel Poussau, tournament director for World Rugby. The rugby federations were consulted by the GIP to choose between two versions of the anthem:
• a reworked format that retains the recordings of the children's voices "while reinforcing the instrumental elements"
• a more classical, instrumental version of the national anthem.

The organising committee, which has received "positive feedback on this new approach", is due to obtain confirmation from all the teams "within the next 48 hours."

7,000 pupils were mobilised during the 2022-23 school year for this educational and artistic project supported by France 2023, in collaboration with…