The three Porirua College students whose rendition of the New Zealand national anthem went viral have been confirmed to sing at a domestic rugby final this year.
Tiresa Foma'i, Rosetta Lopa and Anastasia Sirila posted their rendition of the New Zealand national anthem to their Facebook group page, Le ART, after US singer Crystal Collins apologised for butchering the national anthem during the Kiwis' league test against England in Denver.
NEWS | We're excited to announce that sweet-sounding trio Anastasia Sirila, Rosetta Lopa & Tiresa Foma'i, Le ART, will sing at a domestic competition Final this year. Music mentor Jonny Viliamu: "It's perfect for them & they are so excited." 🎼🎤👏🏽👏🏽 👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/cm4FPWUh0U
— New Zealand Rugby (@NZRugby) July 11, 2018
Le ART told the Herald that they all felt blessed to have the opportunity to sing at a national event.
"We're blessed that New Zealand Rugby even reached out and for them to offer us this is very exciting for us."
"We love singing live and to do that for a national event means a lot."
"We enjoy singing and putting up videos for our friends and family to enjoy so the fact it went viral is still something we're coming to terms with."
The trio's video went viral after they put a call out to the Kiwis Rugby League side and the All Blacks.
The girls' performance, which has been viewed more than 980,000 times, was praised not only by Kiwis, but by many around the world.
"I'm from England and I've heard the NZ anthem a few times. This one, and I genuinely mean this tops it. Sung with passion as all anthems should. You should be very proud of that rendition as I'm proud of you," one viewer wrote.
"Should of got these girls to go sing the anthem for the Kiwis v England game," another commented.
Collins, the singer of what some have called the worst version of the New Zealand national anthem, spoke to Radio Sport to apologise for her performance before nailing the Māori version live on air in a second attempt.
Collins told Radio Sport she felt "horrible" about the performance.
"I would like to apologise to you and the citizens of New Zealand," she said.
"I felt horrible. I would have rather sung it a cappella, as that was how I was rehearsing."
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