France and England meet on Saturday evening, putting former schoolmates Louis Grossemy and Hugo Savala on opposing sides in an international match.
The pair attended Scots College in Sydney in the same year group and later played together in club rugby league.
Grossemy told foxsports.com.au, "Hugo and me are very good mates and we were in the same year growing up,,"
He added, "We played all the years together. Even in club rugby league growing up, we played together."
Grossemy said he had recently reflected on facing one of his closest friends.
"I was actually thinking about it the other day. I'm about to play one of the best mates, France versus England," he told foxsports.com.au.
For the two former teammates, the international fixture fulfils a long-held ambition.
"It's actually a dream for us to be able to verse each other on the field after playing together for so long. It's a dream come true," Grossemy said.