Australian insurance stalwarts went down to a narrow defeat against the touring Lloyd’s Rugby Club last week.

More than 350 people watched the match between Lloyd’s and a Northern Suburbs invitational team at Mosman Rugby Club in Sydney on Thursday.

The Lloyd’s team secured a 14-12 victory.

The Norths team included Berkshire Hathaway’s Mark Dixon, Arthur J Gallagher’s Phil Emery, Allianz’s Karl Truijens and HDI-Gerling’s David Holt.

Chris Dardaneliotis, CEO of Lloyd’s coverholder Sterling Insurance, was knocked back by the Lloyd’s team, so turned out for Norths instead.

Aged 41, with dodgy ankles and having last played 23 years ago, Lloyd’s declined to accept the risk, but Norths were more than happy to oblige. Mr Dardaneliotis played the whole game, raising $1000 for charity in the process.

He survived with the “usual bumps and bruises”, and more importantly “showed these Lloyd’s chaps that we can mix it with the best”.

Mr Dixon told insuranceNEWS.com.au it was “cold, rough and ready footy”, but good fun.

“You have to remember that Lloyd’s had two full teams and we only had three subs,” he said.

“Plus it’s very difficult if you’ve never trained together.”

One of the touring Lloyd’s players, Michael Lee from Besso Limited and son of Macquarie Underwriting MD Bob Lee, co-ordinated the match arrangements.

Lloyd’s Rugby Club was established in the 1920s, primarily to play an annual match against the London Stock Exchange. Its first tour was to Paris in 1976.