Australia’s under-17 Indigenous rugby team is currently preparing to play their first of three matches in France.
Like any sporting team, they are hungry for a win.
But after exploring their heritage at Belgium’s Menin Gate Memorial, the young side has found an extra incentive for an Australian victory.
Inside Belgium’s Menin Gate Memorial is where 54,000 soldiers who died in combat have their names etched into the foundations' towering walls.
At precisely 8 o’clock, visitors in attendance pay tribute to the troops; a daily ritual that has already been repeated 29, 350 times.
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It was an emotional introduction to life on the bloodiest battlefields of the First World War, with the team witnessing first hand where so many young lives were lost.
“It was a bit heart-touching to come here and see the graves and see how many people served in the war. It’s a real great honour just to be here,” said team member Whyte Adidi from Weipa.
Among the fields of headstones was the final resting place of Daniel Cooper, the eldest son of The Day of Mourning founder William Irwin.
Mr Irwin was also the most decorated Indigenous soldier from World War One and recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
“It’s an honour to see a man who fought for his country and his people,” said team member Zengrey Nona from St Brendans College.
Indigenous Australians fought in every battle during the First World War and about a third of those lost their lives.
But despite having paid the ultimate sacrifice for Australia, it would still be 50 years before they are formally recognised as citizens.
“We thought we were just coming over here to tour for a couple of weeks, see some pretty girls and play some games of footy. But really, there’s a lot more too it, like if these people hadn’t suffered horrendous deaths, died and lived in gruelling conditions we might not be here today,” said team member James Widders-Leece from Knox Grammar.
Their determination to win has never been greater.
The team's visit to Menin Gate Memorial has given them an inspiration they’ll take from the battlefield to the playing field, with the under-17 planning to bring some Indigenous culture to their French opponents.
They say they will ‘do it for the diggers'.
Watch the video report on YouTube below:
