There are few international rugby figures as respected or sought after as Joe Schmidt, outgoing coach of the Wallabies, who will visit Newington on Friday to inspire our next generation of players and coaches. On the eve of Joe’s special visit, Director of Rugby at Newington, Mr Ben Herring, talks about the importance of Joe’s visit to our College and community.

‘It is a genuine honour for Newington to welcome the Australian Rugby Coach, Joe Schmidt, to our school this Friday afternoon. Having one of the most respected coaches in world rugby spend time on campus with our players and coaches, is a special moment for our Rugby program and our wider sporting community.

Joe will deliver an on-field session with our senior rugby squad before sitting down with coaches from across all sports at Newington. We are also delighted to welcome coaching staff from fellow AAGPS schools, who are eager to learn from someone with such an international reputation and track record. Bringing coaches from other schools together in this collaborative environment reflects Newington’s belief that the strongest communities are built collaboratively, when knowledge is shared, relationships are strengthened, and everyone is working toward a common purpose of promoting participation and positivity in schools that play rugby. 

This approach sits at the heart of Newington’s sporting values. We believe that a student’s journey begins with leadership. Coaches are powerful role models, and the way we teach, connect, and care sets the standard for the students we are privileged to guide.  

Joe Schmidt epitomises the core values of rugby; humility, respect, resilience, and connection, qualities we aim to convey to every one of our students, both on and off the field, in every one of their endeavours. 

Joe’s passion for the growth of the game of rugby in Australia is unmistakable. His willingness to invest time in school rugby during his visit to Newington on Friday highlights a deep commitment to the bigger picture and to the future of the game. 

As Joe himself says, ‘the traditions run deep in schools’ rugby and the game retains the commitment, connection and enjoyment that’s always attracted players. There are some highly talented players emerging from schools’ rugby, that’s for sure. Some of that quality has been on display regularly in 1st XV clashes but also in the Trans-Tasman schoolboy internationals in recent years.’ 

These words resonate strongly with Newington’s belief in rugby as a pathway, not just performance and participation, but as an opportunity for personal growth. 

At Newington, we see rugby as a powerful vehicle for building character, and community. The nature of the game creates moments of pressure that test resilience, discipline, and courage. Through these challenges, students learn about themselves and develop a strong moral compass that serves them well beyond the field. We are proud of rugby’s unique capacity to shape character while fostering connection and belonging. 

Joe’s visit on Friday also reinforces our commitment to wellness and safety within the contact sport environment. By learning from the very best, we continue to upskill every facet of our program, ensuring that our players, and coaches, are supported by world class thinking, care, and best practice. 

To have the national coach working with our students and coaches is a celebration of what school rugby represents at its best; community, wellbeing, pathways, and character. We look forward to sharing the learnings from this special session in the days ahead. 

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To read more about Newington and rugby, read our blog post ‘Rugby runs through our veins‘.