[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.

youtu.be 

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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.

www.youtube.com  

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.

youtu.be 

[Rdd]

And an epic theme it is too - in use since the latter stages of the 2011-12 tournament, and it survived intact the change from ERC to EPCR in 2014 -though for some reason they now play out an edited version in the stadium with random bits chopped out. Almost forgotten now that it was used for the RWC first before becoming associated with European club rugby.

But on France 2007, wasn’t the version of World in Union used that year bilingual French/English?

[Brekkie]

And broadcasters will be brushing up on their French music for the Olympics next year too (I think C4 should also move on from using Public Enemy for the Paralympics as well).

For me though of all the French sporting intros over the last 25 years the 1998 ITV World Cup intro is still my favourite.

[RhysJR]

And an epic theme it is too - in use since the latter stages of the 2011-12 tournament, and it survived intact the change from ERC to EPCR in 2014 -though for some reason they now play out an edited version in the stadium with random bits chopped out. Almost forgotten now that it was used for the RWC first before becoming associated with European club rugby.

But on France 2007, wasn’t the version of World in Union used that year bilingual French/English?

The 2007 version of World in Union was the oddest official version (excluding Paloma Faith murdering it in 2015) as it was performed by 'All Stars' - a group of classical artists from across the competing nations, rather than any French specific artists like the other versions had (bar 1991 having a New Zealander in Dame Kiri Te Kanawa when the tournament was hosted in Britain & Ireland). It was bilingual, though mainly English.

The full 2007 artist list I believe (those in bold did another official version):
Roberto Alagna, Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson, Hayley Westenra, Lesley Garrett, Aled Jones, All Angels, Vittorio Grigolo, Jonathan Ansell, Will Martin, RyanDan, Blake, Elin Manahan Thomas, Tommy Flemming, Nicky Spence, The Ten Tenors, Deborah, Danielle de Niese.

youtu.be 

[RhysJR]

S4C's coverage will be produced by Whisper Cymru.

whisper.tv 

WHISPER AND S4C TO DELIVER RUGBY WORLD CUP LIVE TO WALES – THE RUGBY NATION - Wh…
Leading sports production company Whisper is set to deliver S4C’s Rugby World Cu…
  Source: whisper.tv

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BBC Wales have released their press release on their coverage. Obviously no live TV coverage, but live radio commentary in English and Welsh, with the recently retired former Wales captain Josh Navidi joining the Scrum V Podcast team (with Lauren Jenkins absent to work for S4C and the S4C/BBC Cymru Welsh language podcast). There is behind-the-scenes doccumentary with Wales star Louis Ress-Zammit to be shown during the tournament.

www.bbc.co.uk 

BBC Cymru Wales announce Rugby World Cup content
Every Wales game will be available to listen to live on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wa…
  Source: www.bbc.co.uk

[TMD_24]

ITV have released their schedule for the World Cup. 9 matches are not on the main channel with 8 being on ITV4 and Tonga V Romania being on ITV3.

www.itv.com 

Schedule for the 2023 Rugby World Cup | The home of Rugby on ITV
Take a look at our TV Schedule for the 2023 Rugby World Cup live on ITV
  Source: www.itv.com

[Brekkie]

Quite surprised the primetime matches of France v Uruguay and New Zealand v Namibia are in primetime on ITV1 in the first week too, but the gap between what a mid tier World Cup game can get now compared to the soaps is nowhere near what it was.

[Scratch_Perry]

Quite surprised the primetime matches of France v Uruguay and New Zealand v Namibia are in primetime on ITV1 in the first week too, but the gap between what a mid tier World Cup game can get now compared to the soaps is nowhere near what it was.

Don't see why you should be surprised, if this was the football equivalent, they would definitely be on ITV1 (unless it was a final "clashing" group game).  But these games warrant main channel treatment in their own right, given one features the host nation (and many peoples' fancies to win the tournament) and the other features the joint winning most country.

[Newshound47]

Don't see why you should be surprised, if this was the football equivalent, they would definitely be on ITV1 (unless it was a final "clashing" group game).  But these games warrant main channel treatment in their own right, given one features the host nation (and many peoples' fancies to win the tournament) and the other features the joint winning most country.

Interestingly Samoa v Chile and Australia v Portugal on a weekend afternoon is on ITV4 when Unless there is horse racing ITV1 will just be showing repeats at that time.

[thegeek]

ITV announces their on-air talent for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Headlines for me:
A change-up in presenters with Craig Doyle and Martin Bayfield absent for the first time since 2007. Jill Douglas, David Flatman and Hugh Woozencroft, all ITV Rugby regulars, will join Mark Pougatch. Bayfield is not mentioned at all after being the pitchside reporter for every England Six Nations game shown on ITV, so not sure if there is an issue with TNT Sports there; of TNT's other rugby hosts, Orla Chennaoui lives in Amsterdam so might no be available for all matches that are during the RWC, Craig Doyle has shifts on This Morning and Sarra Elgan is working on the RWC with S4C, so maybe Bayfield is last host standing for TNT in a way so won't be available for ITV.

the Premiership season doesn't start until after the pool stages of the RWC have finished - there are bits and pieces of Prem Cup before then, but it does mean there's not too much overlap between ITV and TNT's requirements.