Rugby Union at St Andrew’s College
Rugby union has been woven into the life of St Andrew’s College for well over a century. From early scratch teams playing on college grounds to spirited Rawson Cup campaigns and nine alumni who have captained Australia, the game has been a constant presence, shaping leadership, camaraderie and a strong sense of community in generations of Androvians.
A heritage that spans generations
Records and photographs show that St Andrew’s students were taking to the rugby field as far back as the 1880s. The sport became an established part of college life as intercollegiate competition was formalised across the University of Sydney, and rugby has remained one of the cornerstones of the College’s sporting calendar ever since.
The College’s participation in the University’s Rawson Cup competition, the premier intercollegiate men’s series, has been a long‑running feature of student life; in fact, the Rawson Cup is the oldest continuous competition for university college sport outside Oxford and Cambridge.
Rugby is one of the core Rawson sports, and St Andrew’s has continued to compete fiercely for honours and produced players who went on to higher levels of the game.
Notable alumni and national contributions
Across the decades, St Andrew’s has been the college home to students who went on to represent Australia at the highest level. Among the College’s rugby alumni are four Rhodes Scholars, 24 who played for the Wallabies, including nine Captains, and others who achieved international honours. Their achievements carried the College’s colours from residential ovals to national stadiums, and their careers are a proud part of our sporting story.
Notable rugby alumni include (these names are representative rather than exhaustive):
- Phil Waugh (Fr 1998) During 2008, he led his team from second last (2007 result) to second on the ladder; now CEO of Rugby Australia
- The Hon Justice Ian Jackman SC (Fr 1981) was a Rhodes Scholar, and while at Oxford played rugby (as he did at St Andrew’s). He captained the Oxford University College Rugby team and twice toured France with the Oxford Blues.
- Nick Farr-Jones (Fr 1981) led his team to victory against England in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. He now appears as a TV rugby commentator on UK Sky Sports and serves as chairman in the NSW Rugby Union
- Johnny Taylor (Fr 1968) – a dual international in rugby union and cricket
- Dick Tooth (Fr 1948) represented the Wallabies in ten Test matches and was the Australian captain on two occasions. Helped pioneer arthroscopic surgery in Australia and performed the first full knee reconstruction in this country.
- John Solomon (Fr 1948) led his team in eight Tests in the 1950s
- Alex Ross (Fr 1925) Captained the Wallabies in thirteen Test matches in the 1930s
- Johnnie Wallace (Fr 1920) played 9 rugby tests for Scotland, and coached the Wallabies in 1937 and 1953. In 1922, Wallace won a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford , where he won University “blues” in 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1925
- Thomas Lawton (Fr 1920) played in 14 Test matches and captained the national side on ten occasions. Rhodes Scholar in 1921.
Intercollegiate Competition: Rawson Cup
The ‘Intercollegiate Challenge Cup’ was presented in 1906 in the Sydney University Sports Union by Admiral Sir Harry Rawson. Now named the Rawson Cup, it remains the benchmark of male intercollegiate sporting success at the University of Sydney. For generations, St Andrew’s teams have prepared, trained and competed with great pride in this competition. Rugby’s place in the Rawson program has ensured that College life balances academic endeavour with the physical, social and character‑building elements of team sport.
A global connection: hosting the Oxford Blues
St Andrew’s College will host the Oxford University Rugby Football Club (the Blues) during their Australian Tour. The Blues last visited Australia in September 1996; their return represents the first tour of this kind to Australia in nearly three decades. The visit strengthens the connection between two long-established university rugby traditions and facilitates a programme of high-level fixtures, elite training sessions and collegiate hospitality.
During the tour, the Blues will play matches against Sydney University, Newcastle University and Eastern Suburbs Rugby Club; participate in elite training sessions with the Australian men’s and women’s Olympic Rugby Sevens squads; and undertake cultural and sporting engagements across Sydney.
The College regards the Blues’ visit as a significant event within its rugby program. As a principal sponsor of the tour, St Andrew’s College is proud to support this international exchange between two historic university rugby traditions.