‘Not just a pipe dream’: How a social media star fared against some Wallabies

Tiarnan Neville became the first person to slot the Celebrity First Kick! at Nudgee College earlier this month, with the social media sensation coolly sending the attempt between the sticks from near the left sideline on the 22.

Neville has built a strong following on TikTok and Instagram, with more than 39,000 followers on both platforms, while playing the sport around the world. The 25-year-old nailed the kick in front of cheering Nudgee students, before a Wallabies great stepped up to do the same.

67-Test Wallaby James O’Connor sent a near-identical shot between the poles on the hallowed turf of Ross Oval. ‘JOC’ and Neville then shared an embrace, about 24 hours after suiting up for opposing sides in Queensland Premier Rugby.

Hospital Cup history was on the line when Brothers made their way to the Brisbane inner-west suburb of St Lucia, with the UQ Red Heavies their final regular season opponent. The Brethren were looking to become the first team since 1913 to go through the round-robin unbeaten.

Matt Faessler played for the Queensland Reds against the British & Irish Lions last July and has made more than 10 appearances in Wallaby gold, and the hooker was named to start for Brothers – as one of three Australian internationals in the 23.

Josh Flook was back in the black and white hoops after being called into the Wallabies squad in Townsville, named on the Brothers bench along with O’Connor. Reds winger Tim Ryan was another Super Rugby Pacific talent in the run-on side.

But Neville stepped up in a big way. UQ saved one of their best performances of the season for last as they beat Brothers 45-33 on August 5, with Neville slotting five conversions and earning Hospital Cup Team of the Week honours once again.

“I’ve always personally believed I can do it, otherwise I wouldn’t be pursuing this goal,” Neville told RugbyPass.

“I felt that I had the physical ability to do it as well as the rugby brain because I just love rugby. I eat, sleep and breathe it. I play, I referee, I coach.

 

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“Coming here was more of a prove it to everyone else because now I’ve got the stamp. Yes, it could have been two games that I played, but it was nine games that I played and started at first grade, and we won five of them.

“It was more so, it’s not just me saying this or thinking this because a lot of comments that I would get online… they’d be like, ‘oh yeah you’re just playing division 2B’ or you’re just playing here or whatever.

“I’ve backed up what I’ve always thought and shown that it’s not just been a pipe dream.”

Neville has already played for teams around the world, while giving fans and followers a fairly unique insight into those experiences. ‘The Rugby T’ continues to chase his dream of one day playing at a Rugby World Cup, eligible to play for Canada, Ireland and Hong Kong China.

The playmaker grew up in Hong Kong China, and would go on to represent the nation as an 18-year-old starting fly-half at the World Rugby U20 Trophy, before pursuing a degree in marketing and management at the University of Durham.

Neville hadn’t been to a training session before suiting up in a pre-season game, starting the round-robin in the fifth team before moving up the ranks. By the time the season was cut short due to the Covid pandemic, the No. 10 had made it all the way up to the seconds.

But an opportunity to head abroad as a third-year student followed, moving to Dublin and playing a couple of AIL Division 1A games for Terenure College. Neville later spent time at Palmyra Rugby Club in Perth, was with the Toronto Arrows Academy, and went back to Ireland.

There was then an opportunity with the Pacific Pride, who is the Canadian development team. Neville got to captain that side before returning to Australia, having messaged all clubs in the Shute Shield and Hospital Cup.

“I got in touch with [GPS Rugby Club] who at the time needed a 10,” Neville reflected.

“They decided to bring in Bryce Hegarty, who’s a very good player. He’s played more than 100 games of Super Rugby.

“That made me decide to go to UQ who were also needing a 10… they said if you perform good, you’ll play. It’s worked out obviously from there.

“That’s the journey so far and it’s been a long one. When I came down to Brisbane and with Jeeps, I came here on my own accord. Everywhere I’ve gone, it’s been of my own accord.”

Brothers, Norths and Easts were leading the way during the early stages of the competition. Neville would go on to play opposite Brothers fly-half Finn Prass, who signed with Japan Rugby League One side Urayasu D-Rocks in mid-July.

Neville decided to message other clubs in the Queensland competition, but some of those sides were content with the players they had. UQ were one of the clubs interested, with Neville training on Tuesday and playing off the bench for the second-grade side that weekend.

“It was a pretty quick turnaround but that’s just how it turned out,” Neville said.

“I obviously spoke to people and I did my research on UQ and they seemed very honest and just straight up with what they promise and what they promise is performances will get you in the team, and you can see that across the squads this year.

“The number of players who played first grade… you get players like [Queensland Reds winger Lachlan Anderson] and all the pros who come back and that level is just another level… if you’re playing good at second grade, you’re next up and you get your opportunity in first grade.

“A lot of players got their first grade debuts this season, or at least since I’ve been there, who I played with in the second grade in my first few games.”

 

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Neville puts himself out there on social media, taking fans behind-the-scenes of solo goal-kicking practice and acknowledging the good and bad of any given match. He said some people would say he’s far off being a professional, but that match against Brothers was a statement.

Brothers and UQ share an intense rivalry already, and the Brethren were chasing a feat not seen in the competition before. Three capped Wallabies suited up, but it was a social media star who produced a game-defining performance that afternoon.

Neville was named in the Round 18 Team of the Week at fly-half, with UQ teammates Mac Grealy – who has played for Australia A – selected at fullback, and front-rower Brad Khun rewarded with a spot in the side at tighthead.

Olympic silver medallist Joji Nasova was named on one wing, Reds backrower John Bryant was chosen at No. 8 after impressing for Souths, and Brothers captain Will Wilson was recognised for a strong performance even in defeat.

O’Connor scored a 78th-minute try and added the conversion, which reduced the deficit from 19 to 12 in the dying stages. But the Red Heavies had done enough, with Neville’s five conversions helping sway the result in the home side’s favour.

“It wasn’t too much of a culmination moment; the actual game was. I went into it, I was thinking the day before and the morning of, we’re playing these guys, we’re playing against the best team in Brisbane. I was thinking, wouldn’t it be cool if I went out [and] was one of the best players on the park… just played one of my best games.

“I wasn’t going out to do that, I was going out to win the game and everything just so happened to fall into place. I saw spaces and I took the opportunities when they became apparent.

“Following the game, it was more so that moment, the culmination of actually winning the game… it was that moment that I kind of like, it’s all come to this and people are recognising that.

“I didn’t know how the other 10s in the other games had gone in their games… but all I knew is that I played well that game against the best team, and had helped out team to win in [Brothers’] historic season against a star-studded team that they had.”