When club rugby player Terence Schafer came to America for the first time in April of 2012, he never thought he would one day come to school at Iowa State.

Born in the small town of Mazowe, Zimbabwe, Schafer grew up going to a boarding school an hour and a half away from his family farm. That school is where he got his start in sports.

Every student was required to play at least one sport, but Schafer played five, including rugby. He likes the “brotherhood mentality” between all of its players. 

When Schafer finished primary school, Zimbabwe’s version of elementary school, he moved from Zimbabwe to Zambia because his family farm of 106 years was forcefully taken from his father by a government official, Schafer said. 

He continued to participate in sports, though.

Even though he still played rugby, there was a lack of competition among team sports in Zambia, to a point where 13-year-old Schafer was playing with 17-year-olds. As an alternative, Schafer decided to pick up golf.

The lack of competitive team sports caused Schafer to transfer schools yet again. This time it was to a boarding school in South Africa where he played cricket, water polo, field hockey and rugby. After he graduated, he moved to Perth, Australia, where he continued to play rugby.

Schafer had always wanted to go to college in America, but because of the cost, it was never really an option. But one day he got his chance.

While visiting a friend in Iowa, the pair decided to go play golf. While on the course, a golf coach from William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa, noticed him.

“He came up to me and said that he thought I had a lot of potential,” Schafer said. “He explained the scholarship situation to me and helped me.”

Not long after that, Schafer was on his way to America.

At William Penn University, Schafer became involved in the 3+2 program, which required him to take three years at William Penn before he could spend his last two years at Iowa State.

Transferring to Iowa State last semester, he quickly joind in the club rugby team, where the play style was very different.

“Rugby is more fast-paced in South Africa because people have been playing for so long,” Schafer said. “There is a lot more sneakiness.”

He also explained that because of how seriously South Africans take rugby, unsportsmanlike conduct happens much more frequently. 

After coming to college in America, Schafer keeps his main goal in mind.

“Get a degree, that is the main objective,” Schafer said.

He also wants to get a job in America after graduation. At some point, he would eventually like to return home and try to make a difference back in Africa.