KINGSBRIDGE Community College student and Rugby Club player Ruari McColl has been chosen as a mascot for the Rugby World Cup.

Ruari, 12, will walk out as a mascot for Tonga when they take on Namibia at Sandy Park, Exeter, on Tuesday, September 29. Along with his Kingsbridge Rugby Club team, Ruari went along to the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup at Exeter Chiefs last season, where they team auditioned for a chance to be a mascot in the World Cup.

Ruari impressed with his rendition of the National Anthem and won the dream job of becoming a mascot, and he is suitably excited.

Ruari said: ‘I’m so excited already. It feels so good, I can’t wait to inspire others and make my town proud, I am looking forward to get out on the pitch and be part of the World Cup.

‘I am very happy that it will be in England, I don’t think it will happen again in my lifetime.’

Roger Pope, principle at KCC, said: ‘This is a great honour for Ruari and we are very proud of him’, while PE teacher Gary Burnam said: ‘We’re very proud of him and can’t wait to see him represent Kingsbridge and KCC on the world stage.’

Lewis Moody, retired England flanker and part of the World Cup winning 2003 squad, has said he is very jealous of Ruari. ‘Ruari has earned the right to be part of such an amazing experience as a home Rugby World Cup and to be honest I am jealous.’ Moody said. ‘I’d have bitten your arm off to be in a home Rugby World Cup – I was too young and immature in 1999 and now, sadly, I’m too old and too mature.

‘Sometimes a Rugby World Cup can seem a bit inaccessible to people so the fact that Land Rover have been taking the Webb Ellis Cup around the country and also selecting mascots is fantastic. It’s like Rugby World Cup 2015 is coming to you – I love that.

‘It’s inviting young players to get involved with Rugby World Cup, understand what it’s about and get excited by it – it’s brilliant.’

Look out for Ruari in the Tonga vs Namibia game, which can be seen on ITV4 at 4.15pm, with kick-off at 4.45pm. You can also watch it later on the ITV Player.