Twenty-three players at the Coonamble Junior Rugby Club had the time of their lives in Sydney on Saturday 7 July when they joined the Wallabies on the field before their win against Wales. 

Around 75 people, including 28 children and their parents, made the trip on Friday morning before hitting the field the next morning at Wakehurst Rugby Park for friendly matches against sides from Chatswood and Wakehurst. 

The children's next stop was Allianz Stadium in the afternoon to watch the 4:45pm game between the Wallaroos and Fiji, where the hosts dominated 64-5.

Then, around three hours later, came the big moment when the Coonamble juniors walked out of the player tunnel hand in hand with the team in green and gold.

They stood with the players for the national anthem in front a buzzing crowd of almost 36,000.  

“It gives that conversation for the kids, to just see and feel and understand what rugby is all about and where you can go,” Coonamble Junior Rugby Club President Kieran McHugh said. 

“It might drive kids to achieve the highest level.

“We only had 23 positions available to run out on the ground. 

“We had to do a selection process and some of that was taken up by kids who fit the age bracket, but we also took into consideration how much the kids were putting in at training and commitment to the club.”  

PHOTO: Coonamble Junior Rugby Club players walked out and lined up with the Wallabies side during the welcome to country and anthems for their game against Wales on Saturday 7th July. PHOTO: Supplied

The Wallabies defeated the tourists 25-16.

The youngsters also saw an NRL (National Rugby League) game where the Roosters beat the Dragons 42-12 on Sunday and came up close to the winning players at the crowd barrier after the game.