Local choir looks back at its Rugby World Cup fame - The Solihull Observer

Local choir looks back at its Rugby World Cup fame

Solihull Editorial 10th Oct, 2015 Updated: 21st Oct, 2016   0

RUGBY World Cup fever is sweeping the nation and no more so than at Severn Trent Water where the company’s official choir sang at two group stage matches – both played at Villa Park last weekend (26 – 27 September).

The Severn Trent Choir was given the exciting opportunity to sing at the Australia vs Uruguay and the South Africa vs Samoa matches, which were both watched by rugby fans around the world.

Choir member, Tamsin Slater, said: “When we were asked to perform at the Rugby World Cup we jumped at the chance, this really was a once in a lifetime opportunity which we all loved.

“It was very exciting and a little surreal to be standing in the middle of Villa Park in front of 40,000 cheering rugby fans and an international television audience.”




The group of 20 singing enthusiasts started working on the six new languages, and four anthems, in August.

Tamsin added: “The South African anthem is in five languages – Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English, then we had Samoan and the Uruguan one, which is in Spanish, but with a South American twist.


“Fortunately the Australian one is in English, but it was a huge challenge for us all and our Wednesday night rehearsals became a bit of a cultural adventure.”

The Severn Trent Choir has performed at many events across the Midlands since they were formed in 2012 – though the World Cup has been their biggest gig yet.

Tamsin added: “We are people who work for a water company and who like to sing in our spare time, so to get an opportunity to sing at the Rugby World Cup was just awesome.”

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