Days to go:
1536

Days to go:
2262

The SJA works together with:

Lunches, social, golf

• SJA Lunches
• SJA Golf Days

SJA lunches: real stories without the PR spin

The SJA returned to Fleet Street in January. Nearing the Association's 60th anniversary in 2008, the SJA took a step back in time to the old heartland of the newspaper industry for two "power lunches", and proceeded to deliver a journalistic coup as well as very enjoyable lunches.

Rob Andrew, the new supremo of English rugby, and Bill Sweetenham, the sometimes controversial chief coach for British swimming, were the first lunch guests in 2007, as we lunched at the Old Bank of England and Olde Cheshire Cheese respectively.

Rob Andrew imparts his insight on England rugby watched by SJA Chairman Barry Newcombe

And Andrew, on the eve of the Six Nations' rugby tournament, clearly relished being able to announce to the more than 30 assembled journos that his protege, Jonny Wilkinson, was to make his international return after nearly four years out through injuries.

Short of inviting the restored England No10 himself to lunch (and apparently, he wouldn't have been allowed to sample the treacle pudding any way), Andrew was, as The Times put it, "the man who knows Jonny Wilkinson better than anyone". And the SJA's guest was able to pass on his inside insight behind Brian Ashton's headline-grabbing selections an hour before the England XV for Saturday's Calcutta Cup match was formally announced.

Even Andrew himself had to wait for confirmation of the team, but thanks to some deft planning by our chairman Barry Newcombe, he proved to be a most timely guest to talk on Wilkinson's first rugby international since he kicked the three points that won the World Cup for England in 2003.

"He has had long periods over the past two years when he must have had dark moments wondering if he would ever get the opportunity to play again," Andrew confided. "So this is like a fresh start for him.

"It's a travesty that he hasn't played for England since the World Cup final but it's fantastic to see him back. The view from people like Steve Black, the fitness coach at Newcastle, is that he's flying.

"I always felt he would come back and if his body gave him a chance he could go on to be a better player than he was at the World Cup. He was only 24. Physically he is getting better.

"From the work he has done in the last two or three years, he is getting sharper, getting more experienced and he is still only 27. He still hasn't reached the peak of his powers."

Because of the guests' various commitments - Andrew and the Six Nations, Sweetenham and the swimming World Championships - organiser Trevor Bond had given himself an ambitious schedule of setting up the two lunches, in venues unused by the SJA for the purpose for many years (in the case of the Cheese), but both events passed off most successfully.

Alan Hubbard, of the Independent on Sunday, Michele Verroken and the Sunday Telegraph's Simon Hart (right) discussing a point at the Sweetenham lunch at the Olde Cheshire Cheese

In the build-up to 2012, Sweetenham, an Australian, finds himself in charge of possibly the second most significant Olympic sport in Britain. And when he met with two dozen SJA members and guests in the intimate surroundings of an upstairs room at the Cheshire Cheese, he was very optimistic about the nation's medal prospects in the racing pools over the coming five years.

And he affirmed that he wants to stay on as British Swimming's performance director and guide the host nation to glory at the London Olympics, where he has set an ambitious goal of at least one Briton in all 30 swimming finals.

"That would be quite something to give the fans around the pool and watching at home someone to cheer in each final," he said.

"And why not? Britain is developing an outstanding group of young females in the 12-15 age group who we are going to bring through. It's exciting.

"The men are not as well positioned as we'd like them to be but we're working on it."

Sweetenham began our lunch with an off-the-record account of his formative years Down Under in which he left home in dramatic circumstances. His story helped us understand his no-nonsense attitude to some of his charges.

Swim chief Bill Sweetenham explains the new levels his teams will reach by 2012

Sweetenham's contract runs out after Beijing but he left us in little doubt he wanted to see the job through to London.

"Chances are, what I'm doing now is my last throw. I'm pretty much devoted to GB swimming.

"It's been tough, much harder than I thought. I could have stayed in Australia in the comfort zone where I knew how it operated. But I chose to work in a summer sport in a winter climate with near to no facilities. And I soon came out of my comfort zone."

Then came the declaration. "Britain is ready. Maybe not next year, but Britain is going to make the breakthrough on the world scene."

The SJA is hoping to stage further such lunches in the coming months. Booking details will be available here.

Reports by Ian Cole and Steven Downes

Tel: 020 8916 2234
Fax: 020 8916 2235