Up-and-coming rugby player scores scholarship

Caleb Delany describes his sports scholarship to study at Victoria University of Wellington as "life changing" by helping him to follow his two passions—rugby and architecture.

Caleb Delany playing rugby
Photo credit: Shuttersport NZ.

The 18-year-old is a few weeks into studying for a Bachelor of Architectural Studies at the University, after being awarded the Victoria University-Old Boys University (OBU) Jack Jeffs Rugby Scholarship, valued at $15,000 per year for three years.

“I heard about the scholarship through a friend,” he says. “It caught my eye and I applied but didn’t think anything of it.

“I was absolutely stoked when I found out I’d got the scholarship. That sealed my fate in studying architecture—something I’ve always been interested in pursuing.”

Caleb’s scholarship is one of two new rugby scholarships set up at Victoria in 2017—the other was awarded to Tai Neli.

Caleb, who was born and raised in Nelson, is also playing for the under-21 Colts Green team at the OBU rugby club.

Jack Jeffs, the namesake of Caleb’s scholarship, was a stalwart of the Victoria University Rugby Club from the 1930s when he represented the club as a player through to the late 1970s. He established the Jack Jeffs Charitable Trust in 1986, and it has provided support to the OBU rugby club for many years. The Trust established the Jack Jeffs Rugby Scholarship last year to honour Jack’s memory and to provide support to a talented rugby player with academic talent and ambition.

Rhys Barlow from the Jack Jeffs Charitable Trust says Caleb was one of several outstanding candidates who applied for the scholarship.

“I was impressed with Caleb’s academic and rugby achievements at secondary school and his determination to succeed at both during his tenure of study at Victoria University, all against a background of a single parent upbringing. A worthy recipient in my view.”

“Caleb has been an excellent addition to the club,” says Zak Feaunati, his coach at OBU. “He’s a player that has the potential to go to higher honours in the club as well as provincial level.”

Caleb attended Waimea College in Nelson, playing for the school’s combined 1st XV. He received the team's most valuable player and most valuable forward awards. He represented Tasman in the under-18 rugby team, and was selected to be part of the Crusaders junior development squad. He’s also a promising softball player.

He plays lock or blind-side flanker. “I’ve been playing rugby for as long as I can remember—I’ve always loved the game, always followed it.

“The OBU club is great—there’s lots of good coaches and players.”

Caleb’s scholarship money is going toward accommodation costs, which he says is a huge help. “It’s such a big relief to not worry about living costs”.

He is living at Victoria University’s Capital Hall. “For me the hall is the perfect fit. It’s close to the School of Architecture at Te Aro campus as well as the training grounds. I’ve really been enjoying my time there so far.”

Caleb plans to continue onto postgraduate studies.  

“I would like to play rugby professionally but I need to get my study done as well,” he says. “It’s important to experience university life and get qualified. It’s up to me to ensure I’m on the top of my game for both study and sport and I’m willing to put in the hard work to get there.”