Colts captain means business

By Pat McLeod

On and off the field George Nield means business.

The young entrepreneur is leading a double-barrelled Bond University Colts assault on the Brisbane Premier Rugby finals. Away from the field he is also the mastermind behind a two-pronged attack on the business world.

On the rugby front Nield is excited. Bond Colts 1 and 2 are in the finals and although both teams edged through in fourth place, they have shown slices of form during the season that has every other premiership contender on edge.

“To have both teams in the finals is awesome,” Nield, the Colts 1 captain said from lockdown. “It is great to see Bond Colts improve each year and that is a great shout-out to the coaching and support staff to achieve that success.

“Colts 2 have been incredible. They are on a seven-game winning streak and the connections that have grown in that team over the season are just incredible.

“We aren’t concerned about anyone in these finals. Colts 2 demonstrated that last weekend when they beat top-of-the-table Brothers (who had only lost just one other game this season). Every game is a grand final and we can beat any team.”

On Friday the Queensland Rugby Union announced that post-lockdown remaining Rounds 17 and 18 games would not be played and teams would move into the finals based on their current ladder position.

Other than the two Colts teams, Bond will also have Premier Women (4^th) and Second Grade (2^nd) in the finals.

While lockdown ends at 4pm today (Sunday) for south-east Queensland, community sport is still NOT permitted. ‘Community Sport’ includes training, games, and any other organised activities. Bond University Rugby fields, will therefore remain closed, and no training or Club activities will take place until advised further under recommendations from the State Government.

Further information regarding the completion of the season and finals are being discussed, and information will be circulated as soon as available.

Nield, who came to Bond with via TSS last year, was part of the Bull Sharks Colts 1 team that exited the finals one game shy of the grand final in 2020. He is quietly confident of not only attending the ‘Big Dance’ this year, but also of taking home the major prize.

“Last year we made the finals and it just slipped out of our grasp in the last minute,” he said. “So, it is great to see us back there and we are ready for redemption and the chance to show just how good we can be.

“I believe both Colts teams have got so much to show.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to not only play for Bond Colts, but to also captain the team. We have so much potential to offer and we haven’t shown that yet. So, it will be great to be on the big stage and get our chance to do that.”

The Colts brigade are chasing a proud Bond premiership tradition, having won the Colts division on two previous occasions. The first was the Gold Coast competition Colts crown, way back in 1990, in just the second year of the club, and the university.

Colts 1 secured the Bull Sharks’ second title, in 2015, when Colts 1 defeated Brothers in the Brisbane competition.

Nield says he can feel something special in this year’s Colts squad.

“Since coming to Bond I have seen the friendships growing in the rugby club,” he said.

“There is a different feeling here, a sense of family and connection. One of the trademarks of this club is the ‘Unbreakable Bond’ mantra. There is a strong emphasis on working for each other, not just as individuals.

“That’s what we are taking into the finals.”

Away from the rugby field Nield is also in stellar form.

He is studying fulltime a Bachelor of Business at Bond, majoring in Entrepreneurship and will complete his degree this year.

But he isn’t waiting to apply his blossoming business skills. He already has started two businesses – Gurney Gods, a pressure cleaning service, and Alpha Shades, an online sunglasses enterprise.

Nield says there is plenty that he can take across from rugby to his work-life.

“In a small business you need teamwork to be successful, same as rugby,” he says. “One person can’t do everything. 

“In both there definitely is hard work. With a lot of hard work and dedication the result will come.”

He says Bond University has been ‘very good’ in both his sport and studies.

“What has been so memorable so far with Bond is the support, especially during Covid,” he said. “We have always been given support. Bond Uni is always there for you.”