KIDS ROUND: Zebre Parma’s Gregory and his rugby inspiration

Born in Whangārei, New Zealand, Scott Gregory has come a long way to play for Zebre Parma in the United Rugby Championship.

The talented 26-year-old arrived in Italy from the Highlanders in 2023 and has been an important player for the Italian side since arriving.

So what inspired him to get into rugby?

“I remember a moment,” he says.

“Going with my old man to a Northland game. They were actually going through a tough period and were going to get booted out of the NPC competition.

“We had a lot of support, a lot of people from our region turned up to the game. It was a cool atmosphere. I was young, probably 10 years old.

“I can also remember travelling down to Auckland, which was a couple of hours where I lived, and we went to watch the Blues and Hurricanes game.

“That probably leads back to the other question where I did get an autograph off Ma’a Nonu!”

But former All Blacks centre, Nonu, was not Gregory’s hero growing up. That spot was reserved for another New Zealand legend.

“I think Brad Thorn would be that player,” Gregory says.

“He was amazing and a good man of faith as well. He was someone I looked up to and aspired to be like.

“There’s also a player, Richard Buckman, mate he was awesome.”

“He just fitted in everywhere for the Highlanders. He was the sort of guy you could put in any position and he’d turn up and play really well.

“I’ve taken that role myself sometimes, being able to play in quite a lot of positions.

“He’s been someone that’s really cool to look up to.”

But Gregory’s real inspiration growing up was a lot closer to home.

“As a kid, my dad’s always backed me a lot and always said I’m going to do really well and be a professional rugby player one day.

“So it’s been awesome to have such great support from my parents. I’ve always had that feeling, that I wanted to grow up and have those aspirations.

“Obviously to be an All Black too is the main one. I’ve still hopefully got some time to go back and do that one day.

“Even from a young age, I’ve always had those aspirations to try and do really well in rugby.”

Growing up in New Zealand, rugby was always going to play a big role in his life.

“It’s our national sport – everyone loves rugby,” Gregory adds.

“It’s competitive from a young age. You’ve got parents jumping in there and supporting their kids and everything.

“It’s an awesome environment. Everyone just wants to play footy.”

But is there one bit of advice he’d give himself if he could go back?

“I think I’d tell him to focus on just improving his rugby game and not worry about selection and all that,” he adds.

“Of course that stuff is hard and everyone wants to get out and play rugby. And that can probably be the hardest part of professional rugby or any other sport.

“The times you’re not selected, especially when you’re young and you’ve got aspirations…

“Just go out and focus on getting your rugby better.

“I had a coach tell me that when I was a couple of years into the Highlanders actually and that really helped at the time to just go ‘Right, I’m just going to go out and focus on my skills, getting my rugby better.’

“I think that’s something I’d tell my younger self.”