This week, we sat down with Harley Wheeler, a cornerstone of the NOLA Gold Rugby team, who boasts an impressive 35 appearances and has contributed 42 points to the scoreboard. As we delve into his journey with the team, including their historic first playoff berth, Wheeler reflects on the challenges, triumphs, and the sheer determination that have defined his career with the franchise.
Q: Can you share with us how you first got into rugby and what drew you to the sport?
A: Well, I started playing because my older brother started playing senior year of high school and I was in eighth grade so I kind of looked up to him and wanted to do whatever he did. So I started in middle school, started playing for the high school team and then it just kind of flowed through and then went to college and got scouted and now I’m here.
Q:How has your experience playing for NOLA GOLD Rugby differed from your previous teams or experiences in rugby?
A: I feel like NOLA Gold separates itself from every other team because the city itself is such a melting pot of diversity and culture and that’s exactly what NOLA Gold is and it’s why we come together like any other team I’ve played with.
Q: How important is mental preparation in rugby, and what techniques do you use to stay mentally sharp?
A: Mental health in general for professional athletes is a big, big thing because rugby itself is such a very mentally and physically demanding sport. So for me personally I just try to have outlets that I have like different people, coaches, former players that you just speak to constantly even if you have any self -doubt or anything you just kind of reach out and voice yourself in order to stay mentally sharp and mentally prepared for rugby.
Q:Can you share a memorable team moment or match that reflects the spirit of the team?
A: Yeah, I would say after beating Miami on the road and we all kind of went into the team room and we finished what we wanted to start at the beginning of the season. Of course we’re not finished with the whole season but that was our main goal and we all came together and our chant that we sing after a win, you could just feel the difference and like the energy was different and singing it and everybody just felt connected.
Q: Rugby is known for its passionate fanbase. How do you engage with your fans, and what impact do they have on your motivation?
A: I feel like the NOLA Gold fans are definitely well connected with the players. So like, I get texts from fans saying, hey, hope you’re doing well. If you ever need anything, I’m here for you. And that doesn’t happen with any other sport. And so for that, just like seeing that and feeling like you’re a part of a family, it goes a very long way.
Q :What do you enjoy most about playing rugby professionally, and what keeps you motivated year after year?
A: I would say just inspiring young athletes, not just rugby athletes but any like American athletes just showing that there is a pathway, I just I really like inspiring youth in making my friends and family proud every day that I step onto the pitch or that I get selected for a roster. It makes me want to go further and push myself harder for them.
Q: Harley, as you prepare for the playoffs, what are some specific aspects of your game or team strategy that you feel will be crucial to advancing deep into the postseason?
A: Just staying together through the ups and downs. Buffaloes whenever there’s a storm approaching goes towards the storm and they don’t run away from it. So we say Buffalo and we come together and stay connected and we push through that storm, push through the ups and downs no matter what and I think that’s going to carry us all the way through.
Q: What are your aspirations for the playoffs? Any specific goals or milestones you’re aiming to achieve?
A: I just think we need to take it game by game. It’s a single elimination stage, so of course you want to win the whole thing and win the shield but I think it’s crucial for us to just stay focused on the first task that is handed to us and then take it game by game, not looking towards the next team we play. We need to stay connected everyday and buffalo together through this storm.
Q: How do you see the sport of rugby evolving in the United States, and what role do you think NOLA GOLD Rugby will play in its growth?
A: Well the NOLA Gold is one of the first teams in the league so I definitely think they have a lot of impact. Rugby in America is growing faster than any sport because every young athlete sees that there is a pathway and rugby doesn’t only keep you in America, it lets you go around the world. New Orleans attracts especially being such a diverse city so I think it’s going to attract a lot of athletes.
If you could play rugby alongside any historical or current player, who would it be and why?
When I was young, I was a huge fan of the Tuilagi brothers (Alexandre and Manu) because they were like me, small but loved contact so playing with one or both of them would be such an extraordinary feeling.
