School choirs performed renditions of pre-match anthems in the opening weekend of the tournament.

But with players and fans often going out of sync with the choir when attempting to sing along, organisers have come under pressure to make changes due to a lack of harmony in the performances.

According to French newspaper Midi Olympique, tournament organisers are in discussions over whether to scrap the choir or turning it off for the second half of the song to allow spectators and players to sing it by themselves.

Criticism was first levelled at organisers after the anthems were played before the opening match between France and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris on September 8.

Former French tennis player Julien Benneteau described the performance as the "most rotten Marseillaise in history".

Several former rugby players have also taken to social media to voice their disdain at the playing of the anthems.

Among those included ex-England fly-half Andy Goode who called for organisers to "stop butchering the life out of them" during the performance of God Save the King before his country took on Argentina.

"For the love of god give everyone back their national anthems - it’s killing that five-min pre-game buzz," said former Ireland star Rob Kearney.

Ex-Italy player Mirco Bergamasco added: "Can’t we have the anthems being sung normally please?

"The most important thing is the players…it’s a unique moment!"

A source said to be close to rugby authorities told the Agence France-Presse that France 2023 was "trying to find an intermediate solution".

There had originally been plans for 26 choirs made up of more than 300 children only for this to be cut to 170 singers.

The Stade de France and Stade Vélodrome in Marseille are the only two of the nine venues where the choirs have been retained, with the others broadcasting recorded versions of the anthems over the loudspeakers.