Chuck Gehl had already accepted that he wouldn’t get the Nelson College scholarship.
The Missoula, Montana front-rower had been told he would not be going to New Zealand. But then, suddenly, it all changed. The US Rugby Foundation found funding for a third scholarship recipient, and Geh got the call.
“It was a very big shock,” he told GRR. “I was close to being overwhelmed. “I guess they saw something in me.”
Gehl has joined fellow Montanan Jamie Clegg and Kolo Kahanu at Nelson College with a US Rugby Foundation scholarship, studying, living in the dorms, and playing some high-level rugby.
For Gehl dorm life has worked out nicely. The adjustment is different for him compared to the other Nelson College scholarship recipients because he has been homeschooled for the last few years.
“Going back to class was an adjustment,” Gehl told GRR. “But it’s been cool. I’m studying calculus and engineering as well as cooking.”
And rugby. He actually has rugby class time, learning tactics and laws.
“I think what I have been really learning about and interested in is the mentality, having that competitive mentality.”
It’s just been a different experience.
Tackling, the pace of play, and rucking are very different.
“The breakdown is perhaps the most different. The speed of play is so much faster. But what I notice is the rucks. If you just kind of go into a ruck and and just kind of stand there you will get blown back. You have to get to the rucks much quicker and the cleanouts have to be really good or you will get smashed.
