Exclusive to Waratahs.com.au. Meet the latest additions to the HSBC Waratahs squad with our new weekly feature, Next Generation.
This week – Ollie Atkins
The penultimate name on the 30-man roster for next season, Sydney University lock Ollie Atkins earned his first full-time professional contract after impressing in the recent Shute Shield finals series, including the 2012 Grand Final win over Southern Districts.
The inclusion caps a breakthrough year for the promising 24-year-old, who just 12 months ago was playing for the Students in the 2011 third grade Grand Final.
Having spent much of 2012 working in a full time trade support role with GrainCorp, Ollie made his Super Rugby debut as a late call up for the Western Force, playing a full 80 minutes against the Blues at Eden Park and adding a second appearance the following week against the Crusaders.
Described as a stand out for his work rate and the impact around the ground, the Students' lock puts his 117kg, 200cm frame to good use across the field, whether it be with ball in hand, at the breakdown or tackle or in the set piece.
Born in Tasmania, Ollie moved to the Kangaroo Valley in the NSW Southern Highlands just 18 months later, before his family settled in the Bondi area when he was just six.
Introduced to rugby as a six-year-old at Eastern Suburbs’ feeder club McAuley Juniors, Ollie moved to the Bays Junior Rugby Club and representing them at under-7s and under-8s. In 2006 he was captain of rugby for Scots College and played in the second row alongside Sam Carter, who now plays for the Brumbies.
Outside rugby, Ollie enjoys surfing and is a keen cricketer, having represented NSW Combined Independent Schools as an under-12 in a team that also included fellow HSBC Waratahs team mate Cam Crawford. He lives in Bondi Junction.
60 seconds with...Ollie Atkins
1. Best rugby memory – winning the Shute Shield Grand Final with Uni in 2012
2. If you weren’t a rugby player, you’d be - a carpenter, don’t know where it came from but that’s what I wanted to be when I was younger.
3. Your role model in life – Brad Thorn, for his dedicated and work ethic – he does everything to the max
4. Best pre-match tune – anything by AC/DC
5. First thing you think of on a match day – Coffee!
6. If you could play with one player from history who would it be - Willie O because he was an absolute machine!
7. Best thing about being a professional sportsman – not being in the office
8. And the worst – stair sprints!
9. Favourite movie – The Shawshank Redemptions
10. Aspiration for your first season – Win the Super Rugby title
11. First impression of the Waratahs – they’re a tight knit group but very welcoming. And everyone seems really excited about the year ahead.
Next week...Cam Crawford
Show your support! Get behind Ollie and the rest of the HSBC Waratahs squad today. Get your NEW 6 Game Allianz Stadium Membership package today. As well as FREE entry to the ripper pre-season trial match against the Crusaders in Sydney (February 14, 2013), HSBC Waratahs members get advance access to tickets for next year's British & Irish Lions Tour matches. Packages start from just $38 for adults and are available now from www.waratahs.com.au/membership or by by contacting the membership team on 1300 733 899 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) or waratahs@rugby.com.au.