A big weekend of sport looks set to honour Newington’s historical ties, and our College culture of getting in, giving it everything and having a good time.

Dylan S., Year 12 student and Newington Captain of Rugby, is all too aware this weekend’s round of rugby, away against St Ignatius’ College, is an important one. And as always, he intends to lead up front and hands-on.

‘On game days, I like to make sure I try to get to games from as many different age groups as I can because my role involves making sure all the members of the Newington rugby community feel equally as valued as anyone else,’ Dylan says. 

‘I started at Newington in Year 9 and since my first days, rugby has been an integral part of my life here. The strong community and the sense of belonging Newington rugby brings has been a key, and happy, part of my schooling. It provides such a great outlet and support system that many students need, especially during the senior years which can be demanding for many. Including me.’

This weekend marks the start of Round 2 in the GPS competition. As the College looks to cement its position towards the top of the ladder in both 1st and 2nd grade, rugby players in the 1st XV such as Dylan, who plays Number 8, will also be playing to regain the Centenary Cup.

The Centenary Cup commemorates the first friendly Newington played against Riverview on Saturday 28 May 1892. That game ended in a draw. The 1st XV rugby game for The Centenary Cup was first awarded in 1992 to commemorate the 100th year of rugby between the two schools. Now in its 133 year of competition, Riverview won the cup in 2024. This year, says Dylan, we want it back.

Looking forward to running onto the field tomorrow to try to bring it home, Dylan says upholding the values of integrity and sportsmanship, which are core to Newington, are integral to how our students play the game here.

‘We focus our energies on the parts of the game which are under our control such as actions and attitudes, and we see these values on the field throughout our Newington family, with leading teams and coaches honouring these principles and setting a standard for our younger students to follow.

‘And fundamentally, we speak a lot about the importance of enjoying our rugby. For many of us, this is our last season playing for Newington so continuing to appreciate and play with joy will, we believe, lift our play to another level.’

‘From Jack Johnson to all the Old Newingtonians of the program and College who hold the same passion and pride for the Black and White, together we’ve built a culture of family we can all be proud of.’

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Visit our website to read more about our Rugby program and sporting and co-curricular options.