This year's World Rugby Classic always promised to offer much more than just sporting entertainment on the field, with good food, music and dancing all playing their part in the annual event.

Dublin-based party band The Heartbeats have been as much a part of the Classic as scrums, rucks and conversions, having performed at five out of the last eight tournaments.

They have also co-written the tournament's anthem -- `Part of the Classic'-- a re-working of the 1972 hit `Part of the Union' by British band The Strawbs.

CDs of the track have been selling strongly, with all profits going towards next year's Classic fund.

This year the six-piece band had rugby revellers rocking to their melodic cover versions at the Number One Shed during the World Rugby Classic Party.

They also put in a performance at the National Sports Club following the Lions' magnificent victory in the Classic final on Saturday.

"We look at our audience and see what they want and this type of audience wants to see people getting up and performing with us,'' lead singer and band founder John Lowe explained.

"We specialise in doing corporate events. We've stolen a march in that because we don't play public or live and just play for the corporate market -- that gives us an exclusivity.

"We just really enjoy playing the sort of music we play and it just so happens that it's very commercial.

"I saw a brilliant jazz band here a few nights ago and I'm not worthy to tie their shoe laces but it wasn't commercial to make it viable. We like doing the music we do and it also happens to be viable.

"We were at a corporation venue in Dublin and John Kane asked us if we did any free gigs and of course I said no. He then asked if we fancied five nights all expenses paid in Bermuda and I just couldn't believe it -- we jumped at the chance.

"Bermuda has everything to hold the World Rugby Classic -- it has the weather and the people are so friendly and it also has the players -- there's great camaraderie. Even though the games are competitive and you still get broken fingers, all that's left on the field and as soon as they come off it's fun all the way.'' If you missed the chance to see The Heartbeats at this year's Classic they should be returning for next year's tournament.

CLASSIC SOUND -- The Heartbeats lead singer John Lowe with backing vocalists Fidelma Kelly (left) and Michelle Fitzgerald.