WATCH Japanese Rugby Fans Sing SOUTH AFRICA’S National Anthem Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika

Japan is gripped with Rugby World Cup (RWC) fever as they brace themselves to host the world’s top rugby tournament next month. And the country, which shares a special rugby relationship with South Africa – since unexpectedly beating the Springboks in the last RWC (in the UK) – has been practising SA’s national anthem Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. Watch below.

Blitzbokke Supporters page shared the video and said “excited rugby supporters in Japan are busy preparing to welcome the 1995 and 2007 @rugbyworldcup champions to the Japanese shores”. The Springboks leave for Japan today.

Apparently rugby fan Sandy Konda said that more than 400 people turned up at the Kumagaya stadium to practice singing the South African national anthem, with some travelling for several hours to attend.

“Even the mayor of Kumagaya was part of the makeshift choir who practiced away in the 34 degree heat,” said Blitzbokke Supporters.

The awesome video, filmed by Mike Jansen, shows the Kumagaya choir group practising in preparation for their team’s final warm-up match, which will be played against South Africa at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Saitama Prefecture on 6 September.

And it looks like they’re learning even more than SA’s anthem to put on a warm welcome for the South Africans. They start the video saying Sawubona!

WATCH VIDEO: Japanese Rugby Fans Sing SOUTH AFRICA’S National Anthem Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika

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