TOKYO, 19 Sep - If music be the food of love, everybody is smitten by the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

After 15,000 locals sang the Welsh national anthem in Kitakyushu on Monday, and Mayor Takashi Kawamura gave a passable impression of Elvis Presley on Wednesday when he welcomed Georgia to Nagoya, the sport’s great and good really showcased their musical talents on Thursday.

First Tendai Mtawarira revealed he "would never be able to dance" like fellow South Africa prop Trevor Nyakane. "He is just too smooth," said the player known as Beast. "He’s got all the moves."

Tonga sang a moving rendition of a traditional pre-match hymn at a welcome ceremony held with the indigenous Ainu people near Sapporo.

It was the third time in as many days Ikale Tahi had gained attention for their vocal talents, after videos were shared on social media of the squad singing on a flight and in a team meeting.

But the most enthusiastic performance of the day came from Uruguay. Los Teros borrowed Taiko drums that had been played by local women performers in the squad's welcome ceremony and turned them into makeshift tambores de candcombe, drums used in traditional Uruguayan music.

RNS lm/ar/sw