[RhysJR]

Shame they already used 'La Mer' for Euro 2016 (although I am biased, being Welsh and all; that theme is permanently embedded in my memories).

If there's one consolation to the lack of World in Union, at least we won't have a Paloma Faith standard of cover again.

And in an odd twist, the BBC did use Édith Piaf for Euro 2016, a rerecording of La Foule. Especially with the use of the BBC Concert Orchestra, that works better than Non, je ne regrette rien as an intro song I think.

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And even the circunstances that based the song are completely different: Piaf wrote the song in honour of the Légion Étrangère during the Algerian Independence War, at a degree it is now used as an unofficial anthem, and sung during military parades, and also relates on her personal experiences and memories during her own life. As a result, it is often regared as the quintessential chanson française song, covered by French and international artists, and even used in TV series and films.

I think ITV’s decision had to do more with its quintessential status, rather than its real value in French sport. ITV’s coverage of another French-organised sporting event (the 1998 World Cup) had this Eurodance remix of Jean-Michel Jarre’s Fourth Rendez-vous (aptly titled Rendez-vous 98) by Apollo 440 and Jarre himself. It was not associated with the event whatsoever, however, it quickly became synonymous with ITV's coverage of the event and it charted at number 12.

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Being honest, it is a difficult decision to select the right song that can fit the right pace of the event, but World in Union is already strongly and heavily associated with the Rugby World Cup, so, if World Rugby took the decision to drop the anthem officially... difficult indeed.

And another Jean-Michel Jarre tune is heavily associated with the last Rugby World Cup in France in 2007, as 'Industrial Revolution Part 2' was used as the walk-on music during the tournament. It has since gone on to become the music of the Heineken/Champions Cup.

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