Denis Lutge
Encyclopedia
Denis "Dinny" Lutge was a pioneer Australian rugby league
and rugby union
player, a dual-code international. He was the second ever captain of the Australian national rugby league team
and the first to lead the side to a victory
stevedore
Lutge commenced his rugby union
career with the Mosman Juniors in 1893, before playing for North Sydney (now Northern Suburbs Rugby Club) from 1901 until 1907. He made his international rugby union debut as a lock-forward in the first ever test played between the Australia representative team
and the All Blacks
in Sydney, on 15 August 1903. He appeared in all three of Australia's Test losses in 1904 against the visiting British Lions
.
in 1908. Lutge represented New South Wales
that year and in May, like two others of the five inaugural selectors (Hennessy
& Dore
) Lutge picked himself for the first international matches against New Zealand, drawing some press criticism in the process.
Along with Dally Messenger
, Micky Dore
, Doug McLean snr and
Johnny Rosewell he was one of the inaugural five Australian dual code rugby internationals who debuted in international rugby league in Sydney on 9 May 1908 in the first Australian league Test against New Zealand
.
Lutge enjoys the distinction of having played in each of Australia's inaugural rugby league and rugby union Test matches against New Zealand.
He was selected as captain for the 3rd Test in June 1908 and playing at lock led the Australia to their first international rugby league victory after they had lost the earlier two Tests under Arthur Hennessy
.
Lutge was selected by the playing squad as tour captain for the nine month inaugural Kangaroo tour
of 1908-09, but broke his arm before he had the opportunity to captain Australia against Great Britain
Upon returning to Australia he retired from football but in 1915 he was selected as the North Sydney club's first ever coach pioneering the concept of mid-week night training.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player, a dual-code international. He was the second ever captain of the Australian national rugby league team
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
and the first to lead the side to a victory
Rugby union career
A Mosman, New South WalesMosman, New South Wales
Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mosman is located 8 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman.-Localities:In February...
stevedore
Stevedore
Stevedore, dockworker, docker, dock labourer, wharfie and longshoreman can have various waterfront-related meanings concerning loading and unloading ships, according to place and country....
Lutge commenced his rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
career with the Mosman Juniors in 1893, before playing for North Sydney (now Northern Suburbs Rugby Club) from 1901 until 1907. He made his international rugby union debut as a lock-forward in the first ever test played between the Australia representative team
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
and the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
in Sydney, on 15 August 1903. He appeared in all three of Australia's Test losses in 1904 against the visiting British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
.
Rugby league career
He was named foundation captain of the North Sydney rugby league clubNorth Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
in 1908. Lutge represented New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
that year and in May, like two others of the five inaugural selectors (Hennessy
Arthur Hennessy
Arthur Stephen "Ash" Hennessy was an Australian pioneer rugby league identity. He was a seminal figure in the creation of the South Sydney Rabbitohs for whom he played and later coached...
& Dore
Micky Dore
Michael Joseph "Micky" Dore , was an Australian representative rugby union and rugby league player - a dual-code international. He was one of the founding fathers of rugby league in Queensland...
) Lutge picked himself for the first international matches against New Zealand, drawing some press criticism in the process.
Along with Dally Messenger
Dally Messenger
Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger was an Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer, recognised as one of the greatest ever players in either code. Messenger, or 'The Master' as he was dubbed, represented his country in both rugby football codes, playing two rugby union tests and seven...
, Micky Dore
Micky Dore
Michael Joseph "Micky" Dore , was an Australian representative rugby union and rugby league player - a dual-code international. He was one of the founding fathers of rugby league in Queensland...
, Doug McLean snr and
Johnny Rosewell he was one of the inaugural five Australian dual code rugby internationals who debuted in international rugby league in Sydney on 9 May 1908 in the first Australian league Test against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
.
Lutge enjoys the distinction of having played in each of Australia's inaugural rugby league and rugby union Test matches against New Zealand.
He was selected as captain for the 3rd Test in June 1908 and playing at lock led the Australia to their first international rugby league victory after they had lost the earlier two Tests under Arthur Hennessy
Arthur Hennessy
Arthur Stephen "Ash" Hennessy was an Australian pioneer rugby league identity. He was a seminal figure in the creation of the South Sydney Rabbitohs for whom he played and later coached...
.
Lutge was selected by the playing squad as tour captain for the nine month inaugural Kangaroo tour
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
of 1908-09, but broke his arm before he had the opportunity to captain Australia against Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
Upon returning to Australia he retired from football but in 1915 he was selected as the North Sydney club's first ever coach pioneering the concept of mid-week night training.
Playing records
- Club: North Sydney "Shoremen"North Sydney BearsThe North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
(1908) 3 games, 1 try - Representative: Australia (1908), New South Wales (1908)