Newington College Rugby is located in Sydney, Australia, and has a long and storied history, making it one of the oldest and most prominent rugby schools in the country. Newington is credited with being one of the first schools in Australia to play rugby football. The first recorded game was in 1869 against the University of Sydney, a significant event in the history of Australian schoolboy rugby.
In 1870, Newington played its first inter-school game against The King’s School, a rivalry that has endured and is one of the oldest in the world. Newington was also a founding member of the Southern Rugby Union (which later became the New South Wales Rugby Union) in 1874. The school quickly established itself as a powerhouse in the sport, winning the Schools Football Championship every season from 1884 to 1889.
Newington was a founding member of the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales (AAGPS) in 1892, a competition that cemented its place among the elite rugby schools in the state. Newington has had considerable success in the GPS competition, winning numerous premierships. The team of 1896 was particularly notable as GPS champions.
Newington has produced a remarkable number of talented rugby players who have gone on to represent at the highest levels, including a significant number of former students have played for the Wallabies. This list includes legendary figures like Nick Farr-Jones, Phil Kearns, and Allan Alaalatoa.
Rugby remains an integral part of Newington College’s identity, with a strong culture of participation and performance. The school’s rugby program is focused on developing players at all levels of skill, from beginners to those with professional aspirations.
The College celebrated 150 years of rugby in 2019, a milestone marked with a special season lunch and the launch of a book detailing the history of the sport at the school.
