Bond, Reds and Junior Wallaby prop forward Zane Nonggorr will reunite with his former TSS teammates this weekend. PICTURE: Cavan Flynn
There will be a unique reunion when Bond’s premier men’s rugby side take on Sunnybank in Round 12 of the Allsports Physiotherapy Hospital Challenge Cup at The Canal on Saturday.
Talented trio, and great mates, Zane Nonggorr, Wilson Blyth and George Blake are expected to pack down together for the first time since they won the GPS rugby crown with The Southport School back in 2019.
And to make the reunion even sweeter, the three have been selected in the Junior Wallabies squad for a two-match Oceania tournament against the Junior All Blacks, to be hosted by Bond in early July.
“This is special,” said Nonggorr, a giant of a man, but with few words.
“Pretty sure the last time we played together was the final match of the 2019 GPS season against Ipswich. We’re good mates. And against Sunnybank it will be good to be back on the field together because ‘Tonga’ (Blake) is really funny and ‘Blythie’, well he is a real workhorse and does all the stuff that I don’t want to.”
And the wise-cracking is not expected to end there. The trio go way back, long enough to have acquired a kit-bag full of ‘interesting’, playful taunts and jibes.
Nonggorr and Blyth began playing Gold Coast rep football together at Under 13s. Blake joined the party in their last three years at TSS.
In that 2019 undefeated GPS premiership side, Nanggorr was captain and Blyth vice-captain.
They all came aboard with Bond last year, but Covid, representative duties and injury conspired to ensure they haven’t played together since.
So this weekend will be special, but Nonggorr, who is studying Law at Bond, is also treasuring their selection in the Junior Wallabies.
“While at TSS, Tonga and I were selected in the Australian schoolboys. Blythie was as well, but was injured,” he said.
“The three of us were also selected together for the Reds Academy and last year Wilson and I were selected for Oceania (Under 20s), but no games were played because of Covid.
“For the three of us to be named in the squad this year for the Oceania tournament is pretty good. Any time you represent your country is special. But to do it with two good mates and at your home ground is even better.
“It means that mates from TSS and Bond can come and watch.”
At 186cm tall and weighing 124kgs, Nonggorr, cuts an imposing figure. However even more impressive is his potential. The tight-head prop, who has the foot-speed of a centre, has already notched 10 games for the Reds.
He has won plenty of admirers, including mentor, and Wallaby heavyweight Taniela Tupou (the ‘Tongan Thor’), who considers Nonggorr well on the road to an international career.
Bond Director of Rugby, Luca Liussi, said the selection of the three Bond players had given this year’s Oceania matches ‘extra spice’.
“Bond has hosted this tournament since 2015,” he said.
“Because of Covid, there are just the two teams this year, but any match between the Aussies and All Blacks attracts big crowds here.
“The last time the Junior Wallabies and the Junior All Blacks played at Bond (in 2019) we had about 1500 people here.
“To have Zane, Wilson and George, hopefully all playing, will be an even greater drawcard.
“We have seen so many players graduate from this under 20s tournament to the international stage and this year will be no different.”
The Oceania matches between the Junior Wallabies and the junior All Blacks will be played at The Canal at 7.30pm on Tuesday, July 6, and Saturday, July 10.
Tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/aus-vs-nz-under-20s-oceania-games-6-10-july-tickets-159945945629