GPS rugby: Covid-19 border ban fails to break family spirit of Brisbane Boys College lock
When Hugo Perceval runs onto Brisbane Boys College No. 1 oval in Saturday’s GPS First XV premiership decider against St Joseph’s Nudgee College, mum Meg will be in the crowd but his dad will be behind the COVID-19 border wall, 428km away.
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When Hugo Perceval runs onto Brisbane Boys College No. 1 oval in Saturday’s GPS First XV premiership decider against St Joseph’s Nudgee College, mum Meg will be in the crowd but dad Chris will be behind the COVID-19 border wall, 428km away in Inverell.
Perceval, a spiritual leader of the BBC pack, last saw his dad on August 8-9 weekend when Chris Perceval drove the 428km from the NSW country town to watch his boy play rugby.
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But when the Queensland state government gave notice it would be shutting the border with NSW, the Perceval’s made a decision that dad Chris would stay home and mum, Meg, would base herself in Queensland in case Hugo was injured playing rugby or needed the family.
Several players involved in Saturday’s clash face similar heartache, as do many, many families throughout Queensland and New South Wales.
“At the moment my dad and my young brother have stayed in New South Wales,’’ Hugo said.
“Since the Brisbane Grammar weekend (August 8), they have not been able to get up.
It is very sad for dad.
“Mum decided to stay on and I am very grateful for that.’’
Dad, who was a fine player for the University of Queensland rugby club in the late 1980s, has had to make do viewing livestreaming of the BBC matches as he will again this weekend.
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Saturday will be Perceval’s second successive ‘’grand final’’ for BBC after the side lost to The Southport School in 2019.
Perceval and his teammates will be aiming to beat Nudgee and claim BBC’s first rugby premiership since 1954.
Brisbane Grammar School director of rugby Phil Mooney said Saturday’s showdown would be absorbing.
Mooney’s squad has played both schools this season, but last impressions are often the most influential and Mooney was impressed by Nudgee whom his side lost to last weekend.
“I thought they are extremely well coached,’’ said Mooney, a former Reds coach.
“They (Nudgee) are a physical side and I was impressed with their defence and breakdown work and against BBC will be a great game.’’
Mooney said the teams had slightly contrasting styles, with Nudgee’s physical play and defence up against the slick BBC backline.
“It will come down to whichever team can execute their game the best,’’ Mooney said.
Originally published as GPS rugby: Covid-19 border ban fails to break family spirit of Brisbane Boys College lock
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