Three High Schoolers Awarded Nelson College Rugby Scholarships

The US Rugby Foundation announces recipients of prestigious 2026 scholarships.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 7:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The US Rugby Foundation has awarded Nelson College Rugby Scholarships to three high school student-athletes - Alexander Drury from Connecticut, Bennett Glock from New Jersey, and Kolomona Kahanu from Hawaii. This is the fourth year of the scholarship program, which provides recipients the opportunity to attend the prestigious Nelson College in New Zealand and participate in its renowned rugby curriculum.

Why it matters

The Nelson College Rugby Scholarships are highly competitive and prestigious, recognizing exceptional young rugby talent in the United States. Receiving this scholarship is a major achievement that can open doors for these athletes, providing them access to world-class rugby training and development opportunities at Nelson College.

The details

Alexander Drury is a 17-year-old junior at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut who has captained his local club team and played for various regional and national youth teams. Bennett Glock is a 17-year-old junior at Saint Peter's Preparatory School in New Jersey, playing for local and regional club teams. Kolomona Kahanu is a 17-year-old senior at Hilo High School in Hawaii, who has played for teams in Hawaii as well as touring with a San Diego club team to New Zealand and Australia.

  • The US Rugby Foundation announced the 2026 Nelson College Rugby Scholarship recipients on February 3, 2026.
  • The scholarship recipients will attend Nelson College in New Zealand starting in the 2026 academic year.

The players

Alexander Drury

A 17-year-old junior at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut, Drury is the captain of the Aspetuck Valley Rugby Club and has also played for the White Plains men's club. He has represented various regional and national youth teams, including Atlantis, the North American Lions, and the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy.

Bennett Glock

A 17-year-old junior at Saint Peter's Preparatory School in New Jersey, Glock plays for the Union County Mudturtles club and also represents the NJ Jesters Select Sevens team, the NJ All-Star Select Team, Atlantis Boys Academy, and the Ohio Aviators Boys Academy.

Kolomona Kahanu

A 17-year-old senior at Hilo High School in Hawaii, Kahanu plays for the Poly United club. He has also played for the Nelson College 2nd XV and the Cambridge XV in 2025, as well as the San Diego Legion U18 team on their tour to New Zealand and Australia.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The scholarship recipients will begin attending Nelson College in New Zealand in the 2026 academic year, where they will participate in the school's renowned rugby curriculum and represent the college's rugby teams.

The takeaway

The Nelson College Rugby Scholarships recognize and support the development of top high school rugby talent in the United States, helping these young athletes access elite-level training and competition opportunities that can propel their rugby careers forward.