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The King’s School

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The King’s School, Parramatta holds one of the most prestigious positions in world rugby history. Founded in 1831, King’s was the first school in Australia to adopt and play organized Rugby Football rules in 1870, earning it the reputation as the birthplace of schoolboy rugby in Australia.

The Adoption of Rugby Rules
1870
Under headmaster Rev. George Fairfowl Macarthur, King’s officially adopted the Rugby School rules (from England) in 1870, moving away from informal local ball games. The school played internal matches as well as games against Sydney University.

Formation of the AAGPS
1892
King’s became a founding member of the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools (AAGPS) of New South Wales, formalizing annual rugby union competitions against rival Sydney schools.

First Wallaby Selection
1899
Old Boy Hyram “Dally” Messenger and early King’s alumni helped set the standard for national representation. In 1899, P. A. “Possum” Macnamara became one of the early King’s Old Boys to represent Australia in the inaugural Wallabies Test matches.

Relocation to Gowan Brae
1968
The school relocated from its historic original Parramatta campus by the river to its expansive current campus at Gowan Brae, North Parramatta. The move provided world-class sporting facilities, featuring the famous JS White Oval.
GPS Dominance & Professional Era

1990s–Present
King’s maintained its position as a powerhouse, capturing numerous 1st XV GPS Premierships (including back-to-back titles in 1999–2000, 2002, 2008, 2022, and 2023) while producing top-tier Super Rugby and international talent.

Iconic Symbols & Traditions

• The White & Light Blue Strip: The King’s 1st XV plays in sky blue and white striped jerseys with white shorts—a uniform that has remained largely unchanged for over a century.

• JS White Oval: The main rugby oval at Gowan Brae, framed by the grandstand, serves as the spiritual home of King’s rugby. Matches against rivals like Saint Ignatius’ College (Riverview) and Sydney Grammar draw thousands of spectators.

• The “Fire in the Belly” Culture: King’s sports culture emphasizes physical endurance, team discipline, and sportsmanship derived from its military cadet tradition.

Notable Alumni (Old Boys)

King’s has produced more than 28 Australian Wallabies, along with international players for other nations:

• Stirling Mortlock (Former Wallabies Captain, 80 Tests)
• Daniel Vickers & Nick Farr-Jones (Connected through schoolboy and state pathways)
• Dean Mumm (Former Wallabies Captain, 57 Tests)
• Julian Huxley (Former Wallaby and Super Rugby star)
• Will Harrison & Joseph Suaalii (Modern era dual-code/professional athletes)

SCROLL TO VIEW PUBLICATIONS
the-kings-school-rugby-150-stories-1870-2020
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The King’s School Rugby – 150 Stories 1870 – 2020

Club:
Year published:
Author:
Page count:
Notes:
The King’s School
2020
Barry Ross
Written in 2020 by Barry Ross (journalist and rugby historian) and overseen by Jenny Pearce (School Archivist) the book celebrates 150 years of rugby history at The King’s School, which adopted the sport in 1870. It details key decades, classic matches, historical milestones, and profiles notable alumni, including prominent Australian Wallabies.
the-kings-school-rugby-150-stories-1870-2020
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The King’s School Rugby – 150 Stories 1870 – 2020

Club:
The King’s School
Year:
2020
Author:
Barry Ross
Pages:
Notes:
Written in 2020 by Barry Ross (journalist and rugby historian) and overseen by Jenny Pearce (School Archivist) the book celebrates 150 years of rugby history at The King’s School, which adopted the sport in 1870. It details key decades, classic matches, historical milestones, and profiles notable alumni, including prominent Australian Wallabies.
Club History
Provincial History
Sub-Union History
References
Club History
Provincial History
Sub-Union History
References