SUFC
Pre- Season Training
By Bruce China Lin
On a mild Thursday night a group of young men is running drills on the oval towered by the 1850 sandstone * edifice of St John’s College.
A sound of a whistle and the bark of a voice resembling that of a coach resonates across the green fields. Sweat, grunts a swig of water and deep breaths follow thick and fast. You are travelling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. Your next stop the Sydney University pre season zone!
For the next four months with a pit stop over the Christmas new year period these players and their coaches will attempt to mould them into competitive teams for the 2026 rugby season.
There is a noticeable vibe and cross section of old and new faces on this night. The presence of Fijian royalty winger Sepesa Loga-Tarogi with his usual bouncy happy self is a welcome sight. There is just one thing that stands out now with Sepesa. The Newington College teacher’s hair is noticeably longer now on the verge of being tightly dreadlocked or perhaps a nice man bun to show his adoration of his alter ego rapper Snoop Dog. Apart from deciding on the style of his *coiffure the wingers next best decision under the receding light has been to not wear the Snoop’s Cartier sunglasses. Perhaps some moonlighting as a spot welder in the upcoming school holidays is on the cards?
University’s trait of attracting players from all corners of the globe is so true with Jason Xiao training with the extended squad. The Master of AI graduate who represented China in the national team and the army is elated that he can pull on the famed blue and gold hooped jersey. With an accent straight from the back streets of Chippendale, the second rower is happy to bide his time in the lower grades and singing the club song in 2026. “I want the JR Henderson Shield to be here. If I can help the club in any way I’m happy to be here,” says Xiao.
Showing dedication and *temperance outside back Tom Watts looks ripped after shedding four kilograms already. With a number of first grade appearances last season until injuries curtailed his run, the young back is on a mission for next season. “I’m off the junk food and beer. I want to focus on an outside centre position. When we start winning is when I’ll have a beer,” says young Tom.
But behind every good player there is a coach and SUFC will see the return of one of our colourful players from a decade ago that amalgam of Clint Eastwood and Jason Statham- Liam Winton. With successful coaching stints at Western Two Blues, Gordon and with St Ignatius College Riverview, Winton could not be happier returning to his old club as he gets the Students forwards in the right zone. “I always wanted to come back to Uni and I’m excited by the opportunity here. I want to get the squad improving from the last few years. There is a great bunch of people, staff and players at the club. Next season the aim is to make them working hard and being physical,” said Winton.
There are also new faces which augurs well for next season. A cohort of kiwis from across the Tasman have migrated to Camperdown. There was a strapping hard as granite front rower executing cleanout drills. When it was pointed out he just left high school in New Zealand immediate thoughts were that his mother must be relieved that the food bill would be less now!
Nuggety inside centre Nemeki Namoa from Auckland was drawn by the CV of head coach John Manenti. “Some players told me to come here and be coached by John Manenti and I decided to join up,” said Namoa.
Another newbie the big back rower Sosaia Moala could not be more direct in his objectives. “I came to University so that we win a Shute Shield and also play eventually professionally,” said Moala.
Head coach Manenti will now use his wily skills and knowledge to nurture this band of brothers into a competitive unit for 2026. The Godfather sees nothing but optimism within his ranks.”Good signs with the decent numbers. Great potential I can see. We will have them training till Christmas. Then a break and back into it in the new year.”
The spirit developing in the club concluded at the end of the training session. All players linking arms in a circle. A Polynesian brother addressed the group and said a single worded catchphrase. Then in unison everyone clapped once.
Like anything in life if the effort is put in you reap the rewards. The University club appears to be following this mantra at this early stage.
Up the Students!
*Edifice – A large imposing building
*Coiffure- A persons hairstyle
* Temperance – Abstinence from alcohol