There are many aspects of World Cup Rugby we can look forward to: the fans, the atmosphere, the rugby itself, but another aspect is the array of national anthems on show.
National anthems are windows into the history and culture of the countries represented on the field, with each song telling a distinct story of its nation.
We're going to look at a few of (in my opinion) the best national anthems on display at this World Cup:
National anthem of South Africa - South Africa
The story behind this anthem shows how far the country has come from it's troubled past.
This Christian hymn was originally written in the 19th century and has been the closing anthem for the African National Congress since 1912.
However, due to the period of Apartheid rule in South Africa, the national anthem was "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" (The Call of South Africa, for those who cannot speak Afrikaans).
In 1994, after Apartheid ended, President Nelson Mandela announced that both anthems would be given equal status, to celebrate the freedom of most South Africans.
After three years, the two anthems were merged into one song to represent both cultures of South Africa.
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Flower of Scotland - Scotland
Picture it... Murrayfield, late February, a sea of tartan and silence, then...from the roof of the stadium, as if from the sky itself, the familiar tattoo of bagpipes.
You then hear the masses of Scots around the ground sing a song of hope, strength and defiance.
The anthem itself is about the victory of the Scots, led by Robert the Bruce, over Edward II of England at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, a victory well-plastered in the mind of every child of the Thistle (Scotland's national flower).
The most spine-tingling aspect of this performance, comes in the second stanza, when the tatoo stops dead and the song carries on, with the crowd singing in near-perfect unison.
This is one of the must-see moments for any rugby fan and would almost have you donning a kilt yourself, no matter your national allegiance.
Hen Wlad fy Nhadau - Wales
This is another of those must-see moments for rugby fans, with the fireshow and daffodils adding to the splendor.
This anthem was the first to be sung before a sporting event when the New Zealand Rugby team met Wales in Cardiff in 1905.
If you look up the English translation, you can see just why it is belted out with such gusto.
The chorus reads: "Home, home, true I am to home, While seas secure the land so pure, O may the old language endure."
Putting this into context, it demonstrates how proud the Welsh are of their heritage and culture.
In 2021, there were 538,300 (17.8 per cent of the population) native Welsh speakers in the country.
When you see the players scream this anthem, you can tell that they are ready to fight with the spirit of the Red Dragon.
La Marseillaise - France
Few anthems are as recognisable as 'La Marseillaise'. We've all tried to sing along with it, and many have failed (myself included, despite my A in GCSE French...).
Originally adopted during the French Revolution, the rousing chorus and instrumental was a battle-cry for the volunteers in Marseilles (hence the name).
As the French are hosts this year, you can expect every rendition of this historic piece to be just as loud and as unwelcoming to the opponents as each other (especially if anyone on the other team knows what the lyrics mean).
Il Canto degli Italiani - Italy
As sleek and stylish as an Italian tailor and as passionate as the Italian people themselves, this anthem never fails to disappoint.
The gradual climb in tempo and volume and clutching of the badge by the players shows just how much pride the Italians place in their anthem.
Adopted as a temporary anthem in 1946 (despite being written in 1847), when Italy became a republic after the Second World War, 'Il Canto deglu Italiani' only gained official anthem status in 2017.
I am very surprised that the players can even communicate after they sing it as every single one of the 15 starting line-up can be seen yelling it like they were at war.
Whatever happens to Italy in this tournament, who have to play France and New Zealand in their pool, they will certainly be up for any challenge thrown at them if their anthem is anything to go by.
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Honourable mentions
Amhrán na bhFiann - Ireland
While it did not make my top five, it was a very close race but South Africa just shaded it due to historical significance and how big a step forward it was for South Africa as a nation.
Amhrán na bhFiann is one of two anthems sung at Ireland rugby matches now, along with Phil Coulter's specially commissioned 'Ireland's Call', which was to act as an all-inclusive anthem that all communities could get behind.
Amhrán na bhFiann, or 'A Soldier's Song', was written in either late 1909 or early 1910.
The song was originally written in English by Peader Kearney but was later translated into Irish (which is still used to this day) by Liam Ó Rinn.
God Defend New Zealand
Whilst this may not be what the All Blacks are best known for (you guessed it, the Haka), 'God Defend New Zealand' is another great anthem that celebrates different sets of culture in New Zealand, both colonial and native Maori, with the verses sung in both English and Maori.
The lyrics speak of unity between peoples and gathering under the country's banner together and asking God for guidance and protection.
Whilst it may not be as well-known as the cultural challenge of the Haka, it is just as important in the context of celebrating the country's culture, as it cures acceptance and unity of Kiwis (people from New Zealand).
So there you have it, when you tune into this autumn's World Cup, have a look at the anthems and maybe do some digging, you may learn more than you did in your history class in school or find a new second nation to support.
