Wallabies players have produced a moment of absolute class during the historic first performance of an Indigenous national anthem at an international sporting event involving an Australian team.
Olivia Fox, a young singer from the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, sung Advance Australia Fair in Eora language andthen in English before the Wallabies' final Rugby Championship Test of 2020 against Argentina at BankWest Stadium in Sydney.
The dual-language anthem has been met with warm approval and calls for it to be introduced permanently — and the reception was even more glowing for Wallabies captain Michael Hooper and his teammates.
It was the first time a joint-language anthem has been performed at an international sporting event in Australia.
The spectacle was made a truly momentous moment by the entire Wallabies squad singing the Eora language anthem proudly.
It was reported this week the playing group had been learning the lyrics in Eora to show the team is serious about recognising the role of First Nations people in the sport.
The moving moment left Aussie sport commentators emotional and inspired.
Rugby guru Jamie Pandaram posted on Twitter. Photo / Twitter
The Daily Telegraph's rugby guru Jamie Pandaram posted on Twitter: "Absolutely fantastic: every Wallabies player sung the first half of the national anthem in Indigenous language. Learned the words. Paid respect. A great step forward".
Rugby Australia reporter Christy Doran also called the spectacle "spine-tingling".
"The finest rendition of the Australian national anthem. That was brilliant. Never felt more proud of our anthem. Well done Olivia Fox," he posted on Twitter.
The Wallabies' official Twitter profile called it a "goosebumps" moment.
Australian Paralympic legend Richard Coleman wrote: "That is one incredible national anthem @wallabies! As an athlete every time the Australian anthem is performed it should be done this way. I would love to win a gold medal and hear this playing loud and proud, so so inspiring".
The Wallabies are also wearing their First Nations jersey.
