LUCKY Tiptree schoolkids have been selected to welcome one of England’s Rugby World Cup group rivals.

The Thurstable School choir will welcome the Fiji team to London ahead of the major tournament.

The choir is one of 20 selected from hundreds of hopefuls from across England and Wales to greet the sides taking part in the competition, which begins in September.

The choir’s 30 singers will perform during a London ceremony, the time and location of which is yet to be decided.

Sally Thomson, head of music at the Maypole Road school, said: “As rugby is believed to have been played in Fiji in the 1880s and it is their major sport, it is a great honour for our school to be welcoming them to the Rugby World Cup 2015.”

Mrs Thompson’s choir typically perform in a lively up-beat gospel style but will be singing the official Rugby World Cup anthem, World in Union at the event in the capital.

The choir applied to perform through charity, the Youth Sport Trust.

Ali Oliver, Youth Sport Trust chief executive, added: “We are very excited to be able to offer this unique opportunity for schools to be involved in the Welcome Ceremonies for Rugby World Cup 2015.

“The Youth Sport Trust is delighted to support and work with Thurstable School and England Rugby 2015 and we look forward to seeing great creativity in the school performances.”

Stephen Brown, managing director of organising body England Rugby 2015, said: “Congratulations to Thurstable School on being selected to be involved in the welcome ceremonies for Rugby World Cup 2015.

“We were really pleased with the response that we got from schools wanting to be involved.

“We now have 20 excellent choirs from across England and Wales that will help us to welcome the participating unions to the tournament and make it a celebration of rugby.”

Fiji will open the tournament against co-hosts England at Twickenham on Friday, September 18.