OTU Sportsmen's Lunch

The Old Trinitarians’ Union’s inaugural Sportmen’s Lunch delivered an ‘experience of a lifetime' to the Trinity 1st XV, Trinity Old Boys, and other guests attending a rugby lunch at Doltone House in the Sydney CBD in April.

Rugby World Cup Immortals David Kirk, David Campese, Simon Poidevin, and Stephen Larkham joined forces to encourage the 2025 Trinity 1st XV to reach for the stars. MC’d by the ‘voice of rugby’ Gordon Bray AM, the senior rugby squad members were presented with a copy of Bray’s The Immortals of Australian Rugby Union, personally signed by the four World Cup champions.
Trinity has helped educate a bevy of elite rugby players over the last 109 years including Wallabies Dave Emanuel, Roy Hoskins, Rodney Blake, Scott Sio and Tane Edmed.

The School's current Super Rugby honour board is spearheaded by fly-halves Edmed and Jack Debreczeni alongside Sio, Rory Sidey, Cameron Orr, Fotu Auelua, Lotu Taukeiaho, Tom Lambert and Henry Clunies-Ross. Australian Schoolboy Usaia O'Sullivan (2009) joined the Roosters.

During the lunch, Campese encouraged the wingers and fullbacks to watch the off-the-ball activities of the elite local and global players in their positions and don't be afraid to fail. Poido talked about setting the bar high for personal standards and discipline, encouraging perfect preparation and no shortcuts. NZ's World Cup winning skipper David Kirk outlined the qualities needed to be a great team: formulate a positive vision as an entity, skilful players must complement each other, and the group must harness a restless desire to improve. 'Bernie' Larkham who played in every backline position as a youngster, emphasised the importance of versatility and the need for the backs to learn to read what's in front and react accordingly.

First XV coach Michael Snowden reports that next day the Immortals' lunch was front and centre at the School. “The boys haven't stopped talking about it. They loved it.”

President and event organiser Jeremy Barrett-Lennard announced that the Old Trinitarians’ Union is donating $2000 to Hearts in Rugby Union for players with permanent injury.

View photos of the event here.

This article originally appeared in our July 2025 Edition of Trinity News which you can view on our online digital bookshelf.