WATCH: The Official 2019 Rugby World Cup Promo Video

With less than a year to go before Rugby World Cup 2019 ™ kicks off in Japan, tournament organisers have announced Japanese artist Kiyoe Yoshioka’s version of World in Union as the tournament’s official anthem.

The lead singer of the pop-rock band Ikimono-gakari, Kiyoe is hugely popular across Japan. Her version of World in Union, with its message of global unity and friendship, is synonymous with Rugby’s global showpiece and is set to be a hit among Japanese rugby fans and Kiyoe’s loyal fanbase throughout Japan.

At Rugby World Cup 1991 in England, world famous soprano Kiri Te Kanawa performed World in Union at a Rugby World Cup for the first time. Since then the song has featured at every addition of the tournament and is typically performed by a well-known artist or group from the tournament’s host country. It has been sung in a variety of musical styles from classical opera to traditional South African male vocal ensemble, and recorded in numerous languages including English, French, Welsh, Maori and Japanese.

Kiyoe Yoshioka’s version of World in Union will be the eighth consecutive time the song has been performed as the official Rugby World Cup theme song since 1991. While it will be officially launched and available for download internationally on 24 October 2018, fans can listen to the song as part of an official Rugby World Cup 2019 promotional video released today.