The first games of Rugby at Trinity were
played during the 1916 season. Unfortunately, no records of that season have
survived. However, the first recorded 1st XV match at Trinity Grammar School
was in 1917 against Newington 3rd XV who won that fixture 16-0. The first win
for the School was 8-6 against The Technical High School later that season.
That 1917 team contained Trinity’s first Australian Wallaby representative, Roy
Hoskins, who played three test matches against the All Blacks in 1924.
The first Captain of Rugby was A.B. Kerrigan who was the captain for 1916 and 1917 and after whom Kerrigan House is named. In 1918, under the captaincy of Roy Hoskins, Trinity won 7 matches out of 12, including a very good 39-0 win against Waverley College. In 1919 Trinity fielded two future Wallabies, Hoskins and Campbell Gordon in the backline. Gordon also played three test matches against the All Blacks in 1929.
The first Captain of Rugby was A.B. Kerrigan who was the captain for 1916 and 1917 and after whom Kerrigan House is named. In 1918, under the captaincy of Roy Hoskins, Trinity won 7 matches out of 12, including a very good 39-0 win against Waverley College. In 1919 Trinity fielded two future Wallabies, Hoskins and Campbell Gordon in the backline. Gordon also played three test matches against the All Blacks in 1929.
In the four years from 1935 to 1938, the 1st XV won the Combined Associated Schools’ Competition three times and were runners-up in 1936. Halfback Horrie Marks played an extraordinary five years in the 1st XV during this period.
In 2005 Robert O’Reilly scored a record 25 tries and, over three season of 1st XV from 2004-2006, scored 43 tries to be the School’s leading try scorer. O’Reilly went on to represent the NSW Schools XV in 2005 and 2006.
The School Rugby programme has enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in the last five years or so with four Australian Schools’ representatives; Pao Pele (2008), Scott Sio (2009), Usaia O’Sullivan (2009) and Jack Debreczeni (2011). Since graduating from Trinity, both Jack Debreczeni and Scott Sio have continued to evolve as rugby players, representing Super XV franchises - the Melbourne Rebels and ACT Brumbies respectively. Scott Sio has also gone on to represent Australia at the 2015 World Cup in England, and playing a significant role in the Wallabies’ successful path to the World Cup Final against the New Zealand All Blacks. These young men have successfully maintained the Trinity Rugby Spirit at the highest levels.
Trinity’s most recent Combined Associated Schools’ Premiership, where schools compete for the Henry Plume Shield, was in 2011, when the 1st XV enjoyed a record breaking undefeated season. Highlights included an extraordinary 67 tries in the 10 game season. During the last few seasons since winning the Premiership, Trinity Rugby has continued to develop as a competitive rugby school, with the current 2015 season having concluded with significant representation in the CAS and NSW Schools teams. Through the contribution of coaches, parents and players, the Trinity Rugby family continues to grow, which translates to a hopeful and prosperous Rugby future.
The first Japan Rugby Tour travelled in 2002 with the
School taking an U16 development squad to Fukuoka and Takamatsu. The tour
recorded 3 wins and 1 loss.
Over the years, Trinity has travelled to Japan every 2-3
years to build relationships. Currently, Trinity has strong connections with
Kwansei Gakuin Senior High School and Higashi Fukuoka High School. This
relationship is seen annually through the Japanese Exchange Programme, where
students from both Schools come to Trinity to learn English and play rugby.
The Japan tourists
will participate in training, games, class participation, sport and
co-curricular exposures. In addition, the tourists have the opportunity to
experience the Japanese culture by visiting heritage sites like temples,
castles and memorial museums as well as walking through the modern neon city of
Tokyo.
