Bad to the bone? Not likely.

Dave Newman's phone might burst into life to the strains of the old George Thorogood and the Destroyers classic, but there isn't a bad bone in the Ōtaki man's body.

Nor were there many dry eyes at New Zealand Rugby House on Friday when Newman made a host of dreams come true – not least his own.

ROSA WOODS/STUFF

Otaki man Dave Newman hopes others will try to match or better his own generosity.

Newman won a New Zealand Rugby (NZR) competition in early January, although he thought it was a wind up at the time.

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He'd entered The Twelve Days of Christmas promotion the previous month, but forgot all about it over the festive season.

ROSA WOODS/STUFF

All Black Damian McKenzie signs autographs for children from Activ8 and Alopha Wellness program.

It wasn't just any competition either. Newman's prize was a trip for two to any All Blacks test in 2018, with three nights accommodation and expenses thrown in.

Having emigrated to New Zealand from England in 1972, the November 10 clash at Twickenham was the obvious option.

"But I kept looking at the title of the competition: The Twelve Days of Christmas," Newman said.

ROSA WOODS/STUFF

All Blacks halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi signs autographs for children from the Activ8 and Alopha Wellness program.

So he did something no one at NZR expected. He turned down their offer and made them one of his own.

What if he took 12 children, of NZR's choosing, to the Westpac Stadium clash between the All Blacks and France?

"I can't give them shoes, I can't give them lunches every day, but I can give 12 kids something that they'll look forward to and remember for the rest of their lives," Newman said.

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A happy Dave Newman surveys the scene he created at New Zealand Rugby House on Friday.

"That, to me, is worth more than going overseas to Sydney, or wherever, to watch a game of football."

Long story short: on Friday morning 12 children from the Active8 and Alopha Wellness program arrived at NZR's headquarters a little unsure of what was about to happen.

The program helps children, many of them Pasifika, who deal with anxiety and esteem and learning issues. It gives them the tools to slow themselves down and make good, calm decisions.

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The children from Activ8 and Alopha Wellness program hang off every word from All Blacks Scott Barrett, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Damian McKenzie.

Once the formalities were complete, in walked All Blacks Damian McKenzie, Scott Barrett and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, to welcome the children to "Team All Blacks" and answer questions and sign autographs.

From there it was off to the team's captain's run at Westpac Stadium, to meet all of the squad ahead of a very special honour on Saturday.

It's customary for a child to run on with the match ball at big matches, but when the All Blacks meet France, 12 children will do that together.

ROSA WOODS/STUFF

Children from Activ8 and Alopha Wellness program at New Zealand Rugby headquarters on Friday.

When he thinks of the part he played in that, Newman gets a little teary-eyed.

"This is way beyond anything that I dreamed of, and to be honest, when you look at these All Blacks, they're making these kids feel at home and you can see the smiling faces," he said.

Although it was seeing the children do something else that really tugged at Newman's heartstrings.

ROSA WOODS/STUFF

The lucky kids crowd around All Blacks Scott Barrett, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Damian McKenzie.

"When these guys sung, I was completely humbled. Those All Blacks must've felt the same as I do. It's very humbling when somebody sings to you."

But no more than Newman deserved for his old-fashioned generosity.

"I'll remember this for as long as I live and until I go, and it's something special, really special – special for me, special for these kids. I wanted to do something out of the ordinary, perhaps, and its turned into something nice."

 - Stuff