A PUPIL from Didcot has been picked to be an official Rugby World Cup mascot.

The news was broken to 12-year-old Finlay Harrison by stars of his favourite team London Welsh.

Olly Barkley, who made the shock announcement with team-mate Seb Jewell at a special assembly at Manor School in Lydalls Close, said: “It was really good surprising Finlay at his school like that. We were more than happy to come down.”

Finlay, who plays for Didcot Rugby Club, had auditioned for the role of a World Cup mascot at the London Welsh Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup in March.

But he had no idea that he had been successful.

He said: “It was such a shock. We were in assembly and then the players walked in.

“I got called up and that’s when I found out, I was so excited.

“I’m a big London Welsh fan, so getting to meet the players was great fun, especially in front of the whole school.”

He added: “I sang the national anthem at the Premiership Land Rover Cup in March and they obviously liked what they heard.”

Finlay will now accompany a national side out onto the pitch for one of their games at this year’s World Cup, which starts in September.

He said: “It will be so good to be a mascot in the World Cup. It would be massive to walk out at Twickenham but I’m excited about being a mascot at whatever game.”