| Full name | Denis Lutge[1] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 26 November 1879 | ||
| Place of birth | Sydney, New South Wales [1] | ||
| Date of death | 18 February 1953 (aged 73) | ||
| Place of death | Mosman, New South Wales | ||
| Occupation(s) | stevedore | ||
| Rugby league career | |||
| Position | Lock | ||
| Professional clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1908 | North Sydney | 3 | (3) |
| State Representation | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1908 | New South Wales | 1 | (0) |
| National teams | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1908-09 | Australia | 3 | (3) |
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | lock[1] | ||
| Amateur clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | ||
| 1901-07 | North Sydney RUFC | ||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1901-07 | New South Wales | ||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1903-04[1] | Australia | 4[1] | (0)[1] |
Denis "Dinny" Lutge (26 November 1879 – 18 February 1953) 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
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A Mosman, New South Wales 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.
He was named foundation captain of the North Sydney rugby league club 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.[2]
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.[2]
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.