HS Boys Players Can Apply for a Scholarship to Nelson College in New Zealand
HS Boys Players Can Apply for a Scholarship to Nelson College in New Zealand
The United States Rugby Foundation has announced a reprise of its highly successful Nelson College Scholarship Program.
USRF will be selecting a highly-qualified American High School rugby player to attend Nelson College, a secondary/high school for boys located in Nelson, New Zealand, which conducts a unique, highly acclaimed rugby program.
Two players, Oliver Kirk and Max Doerfler, attended Nelson this year and you can read more about here:
How Two American Kids Handled Rugby and Life at School in NZ
The Foundation is seeking applications from well-rounded U.S. high school male rugby players with excellent basic rugby skills who are interested in spending the 2024 summer term attending high school in New Zealand and playing high-level rugby in an immersive setting. The selection process involves gathering recommendations from coaches around the country and obtaining information about the player’s academic standing, maturity, athletic ability, on-field rugby performance, and potential for growth, leadership, character, and maturity.
The Foundation anticipates awarding one scholarship this year for 2024.
The goal of USRF’s Nelson College Scholarship Program is to advance the player’s personal development, culturally and academically, while also giving them the opportunity to become better rugby players and use their experience in New Zealand to influence and help elevate the play of their high school teammates when they return.
About Nelson College
Nelson College is an all-boys boarding school located in Nelson on New Zealand’s South Island. Founded in 1856, Nelson College is New Zealand’s oldest secondary school and the school where rugby in New Zealand was started. Located on the shores of Tasman Bay, Nelson is a small city with a vibrant and diverse culture. Known as the sunshine “capital” of New Zealand, the area is blessed with stunning natural landscapes.
Nelson College is a highly acclaimed academic institution where students carry a full course workload. But what sets it apart is their rugby curriculum. Of the nearly 1,000 students enrolled at Nelson College, 200 play rugby; and over 100 of these participate in a formal Rugby Curriculum where rugby technique classes are run daily for four different age groups from U14 to U17.
Rugby classes are based around the following six key pillars of player development: Technical; Tactical; Strength and Conditioning; Nutrition; Mental Skills; and Personal Development.
The 2024 Scholarship
The scholarship for 2024, to be awarded by the end of 2023. The successful student-athlete will spent 4-1/2 months at Nelson College from early to mid-April, 2024 until mid- to late-August 2024.
The scholarship will cover the costs of attending Nelson College, including tuition; boarding either at the school or in a homestay; travel and medical insurance; uniforms; extracurricular activities; and NZ government and administrative fees. Airfare to and from New Zealand is also included.
Applying
Male high school rugby players in the US, born in 2006 or later, and who are in good standing with their rugby team and their school, are eligible to apply.
The key characteristics the Nelson College coaching staff are looking for in the player are: maturity, coachability, positive attitude, work ethic, and resilience.