A GROUP of rugby-mad pupils from south Shropshire enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience by playing at the sport's most famous venue.

The youngsters, from St Lawrence Primary School in Church Stretton, played on the hallowed turf of Twickenham in front of 80,000 fans.

The chance came about after the school won a national competition back in the summer.

Their prize was to play the exhibition matches at Twickenham ahead of England's recent clash with Australia.

The youngsters, who were given a dressing room next to the Australian team, also performed the guard of honour for the players as they walked out into the pitch.

"It was a great day," said the school's headteacher, Jonathan Pygott.

"We had fantastic seats at pitch side level and we could see ourselves on TV.

"When you look at the hospitality around Twickenham, we were able to do something you just couldn't pay for.

"They had earned that right to be there."

Earlier in the day the pupils had been filmed by the Sky Sports programme Game Changers where they spoke about their excitement of playing at Twickenham.

England secured a morale-boosting win by beating Australia 26-17 in the last match of their autumn campaign.

Ben Morgan grabbed two tries, while George Ford netted 16 points.

England went into the game on the back of consecutive defeats against New Zealand and South Africa, but they overwhelmed the Aussies with their dominant scrummages.

Stuart Lancaster's side will face Australia again at next year's World Cup at Twickenham.

The hosts also face Wales, Fiji and Uruguay in Pool A in the showpiece tournament next September and October.