Bungay pupil scores huge Rugby World Cup honour
Bungay High School student Anton Parocki has been selected to be a mascot for the Rugby World Cup match between France and Canada. - Credit: Nick Butcher
A young rugby player has won a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take part in the biggest occasion in the rugby calendar.
Bungay High School student Anton Parocki has been selected to be a mascot for the Rugby World Cup match between France and Canada. - Credit: Nick Butcher
Anton Parocki, a Year 8 student at Bungay High School, plays for Southwold Rugby Club’s under 12s team.
The youngster was picked to be one of the mascots for the 2015 Rugby World Cup currently taking place - and Anton’s opportunity came yesterday evening at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, when he walked out with the French players for their match against Canada.
He was one of three children who walked out on to the pitch - one mascot for each team and one carrying the ball - before being seated in the stands with his parents to watch the match.
But it was his vocal skills which won him the opportunity to take up the coveted role.
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Southwold U12s team were playing in the Land Rover Cup at Northampton last season when Anton entered Land Rover’s competition to become a mascot. His task was to take to a microphone and say some inspirational words or sing the national anthem.
Anton’s father John said: “Anton volunteered but didn’t know what he had to do.
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“The next thing he was in the Land Rover belting out the national anthem.
“We never heard anything for a few months and then we found out he had been chosen, and last week a big box arrived containing his official kit.”
The family has relatives in Canada who were tuned in to the game.
The 12-year-old said ahead of the match that he was really excited and looking forward to the occasion.
“I have been to some big games before and watched England play, but this is the first time to go on to the pitch,” he said.
“My favourite player is Jonny Wilkinson, because he won the World Cup for us.”
Land Rover said the lucky youngsters were chosen because they “embody the spirit of grass roots rugby”.
•Have you been chosen to take part in a special event? Email lynn.crombie@archant.co.uk or call 01502 712060.
