The Orange City under 9s players, and a few under 7s, made up one side of that guard of honour and cheered the Wallabies onto the field in front of a record crowd.

The junior club nominated to be part of the Wallabies’ Test series against France and were lucky enough to be selected.

The match attracted 43,188 spectators at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, the largest Test rugby union crowd at the ground.

The club’s under 9s co-coach Jon Harris said it was a big day for his young players.

“They were sort of a bit shell-shocked,” Harris laughed.

“I don’t think they quite understood the magnitude of what they were doing.”

The kids were keen to see the Australian players up close as well as have the chance to be on television.

“They were so excited,” Harris said.

“They did well.”

Of course they were given the chance to rub shoulders with the players they look up to.

“Where we were sitting, the players come through there after they get off the bus,” Harris explained.

“So the boys spoke to a few of the players like Israel Folau. 

“We were also right in front of the FoxSports commentary box. So the boys talked to John Eales and Tim Horan and got some signatures.”

The boys were on the field on Sunday playing in the Wallas Gala Day in Dubbo.

Harris said the young players were tired but showed they had been paying attention to some of the Wallabies’ plays.

“They’d obviously remembered things,” Harris said.