A RUGBY player says he will be living his "childhood dream" when he sings the national anthem ahead of England's big Six Nations clash this weekend.

Richard Hadfield will swap a rugby ball for a microphone when he walks out to a packed Twickenham Stadium on Saturday.

The former Hove Rugby player said it will be a "dream come true" when he sings God Save The Queen in front of 80,000 fans before England take on Wales.

Richard, who now lives in London, found fame winning the ITV television show Britain's Got Talent with musical theatre vocal group Collabro.

He told The Argus he was "incredibly excited" to perform at the tie this weekend.

He said: "Ever since I was younger, it has always been a dream of mine to sing the national anthem, although I won't be doing the second part of my dream, which would be playing for England, to sing for my county is a complete honour.

"To do it for a sport that I love and hold dear to my heart really means a lot.

"I found out just before Christmas but I still don't know how people came across me.

"I grew up playing for Worthing and then moved to Hove. I now play up in London but when I come home I play for Shoreham.

The Argus: Richard playing for Shoreham Richard playing for Shoreham

"Every now and again when I do come home, I try and play."

During the pandemic, Richard released his A Song a Day Keeps Corona Away videos on YouTube and Instagram for more than two months.

The singer, who grew up in Portslade, also started a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to upgrade his home recording studio and was “blown away” when he raised more than £2,000 within 12 hours.

Richard’s videos, which include recordings of songs such as The Confrontation from Les Miserables, have had more than 200,000 views.