Waltzing Matilda Will Get An RWC Airing

The Directors of Rugby World Cup Limited considered a request from the Australian Rugby Union to permit Waltzing Matilda to be played and sung at the commencement of matches in the Rugby World Cup in which Australia is one of the competing teams.

The Directors recognise the importance and significance of Waltzing Matilda to the Australian nation, and are pleased to confirm that it may be both formally played and sung at any nominated time before the teams take the field. Once players are on the field, however, no formal musical performance will be permitted other than the playing of the national anthems.

Attention has been drawn to the fact that New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji & Tonga are nevertheless allowed to perform a brief ritual challenge following the national anthems. The Directors wish to point out that such challenges are performed solely by the players themselves, and are a long-established and indivisible part of international rugby tradition.