GPS rugby: Brisbane Boys College locks Ollie Milne and Hugo Perceval inspired by the past
As the Brisbane Boys College community dare to dream of its first GPS First XV rugby premiership since the 1954, we look at the engine room and discover what inspired locks Hugo Perceval and Oliver Milne on their journey toward treasured Firsts’ jumpers.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A little over 12 months ago Oliver Milne was part of the Brisbane Boys College supporters who watched the First XV come down the hill and walk toward the Old Collegians Pavilion enroute to No. 1 oval.
It was the day BBC played The Southport School for the GPS premiership and Milne, having only arrived at the college six months early, was captivated by the atmosphere of the day which inspired him strive for a First XV jersey.
“The atmosphere was incredible,’’ Milne said.
RELATED LINKS
Fast forward 12 months and Milne, alongside his second row partner Hugo Perceval, are key members of an engine room which is helping BBC rumble to within sight of its first GPS
First XV premiership since 1954.
Perceval, a border from Inverell, also recalls watching his first First XV match several years earlier and like Milne, it lit a flame of desire within him.
“We came and looked at BBC and it was the perfect fit I thought,’’ Perceval said.
“The atmosphere was like nothing I had ever witnessed. I come from small country towns playing down there (New England district) and not much of a crowd, but this was just awesome footy.
“And I loved the challenge of just trying to step up.’’
Perceval, a boarding house captain, comes from a good pedigree, with his father an outstanding lineout jumping flanker for the powerful University club in the 1980s and 1990s.
Like dad, Perceval is outstanding in the lineout and has a high work rate as well.
Perceval is a senior member of the Firsts this season, and having been a part of the 2019 First XV squad, he was well positioned to comment on how this squad was travelling.
And one thing Perceval notes is the “brotherhood’’ bond between the team mates is even more entrenched this year than last.
“We did a lot of work on that last year but still when it came down to the crunch time, it was still not 100 per cent of what it could have been,’’ he said.
“This year the bond between each player is much stronger.’’
RELATED LINKS
Perceval said the college had improved his rugby through having access to great coaches.
Indeed both boys spoke so fondly of Shane Drahm, the Kefu brothers Steve and Toutai, Rhys van Nek and junior coaches on their journey, including Steve Phillpotts.
Milne, a year 11 student and member of the BBC rowing First VIII, said it was difficult to describe the improvement in his game given the quality of coaching and facilities he had been exposed to at BBC.
The road to the premiership is all about little steps, putting one small block on top of the other, as BBC prepare to confront Toowoomba Grammar School this weekend (home), joint favourites St Joseph’s Nudgee College on September 12 (home) and then Brisbane State High School (away) on September 18.
BBC gained plenty of momentum from a 45-6 victory over premiers TSS on the Village Green last weekend and Perceval said “after that victory everyone was buzzing’’.
“But we know there are still three games left in the season and it is not done until that final whistle against State High goes (on September 18),’’ Perceval said.