Club president Paul Clancy said the SuperRugby Brumbies helped out with warm-ups, running water and even refereeing.

“Having the Brumbies there was fantastic, what they brought back for the kids was great,” Clancy said.

“They played a few games of touch football and some of them would have had sore wrists from signing all those autographs.

“It’s not just for Cootamundra, but all the clubs that were there, including Hay, who travelled five hours to Cootamundra.”

Clancy said he was looking forward to seeing the Brumbies hopefully return for another country visit at another club next year.

For Brumbies’ scrum-half Matt Lucas visiting brought back fond memories of junior football. 

“It’s so impressive to come out here and see the numbers, the passion and getting to meet good-hearted people,” Lucas said.

Lucas said it was chance to remember why he played rugby union, provide an example to younger players and show them there could be a future in sport.

“It’s the foundation, it’s going out there and doing it for the love of it, spending some good quality time with your mates and that’s why we all started,” he said.

“Ultimately it’s about being role-models, just being out there and interacting with the kids and helping them out if that’s what they need.”