Outsider earns seat in the front row
Nathan Charles was at home in Sydney finishing a university assignment on March 26.
The only rugby in his future was a trial for Sydney University, but his studies were interrupted by a phone call from Western Force manager Mitch Hardy.
Just seven days later, the 21-year-old from the Brumbies academy was in the Force front row playing Super 14 in the drought-breaking win over the Stormers at ME Bank Stadium.
The Force's hooking stocks were running on empty with only Ben Whittaker fit.
Ryan Tyrrell's season ended when he suffered a neck injury that needed surgery and Force coach John Mitchell was using specialist prop Pek Cowan as his other rake.
"It was on the Friday and I was doing an assignment when Mitch Hardy called," Charles said.
"He said they had a few injuries and would be interested in getting me over. Obviously I was, but we didn't really agree on anything right then.
"Halfway through the university trial my dad said: 'You need to have a chat with Mitch now'.
"He confirmed they wanted me the next week for the Stormers game and that was it. The call came out of the blue and everything happened quickly. Next thing I was on my way to Perth."
Charles was almost lost to rugby when he joined league club Canterbury Bulldogs as a junior. But he returned to union and played for Australian schoolboys in 2006 and the under-20s in 2008 and 2009.
He started his junior rugby on the wing but with a family stocked with props a move to the front row was inevitable.
And he slimmed down to do it.
"I started on the wing but my dad, my uncle and my brother all played prop and they all said I'd end up in the front row somewhere," he said.
"I was a little bit chubby as a kid and I was chubby on the wing, but I had actually lost weight by the time I moved to the front row."
Charles, who is two weeks into a four-week deal with the Force, is expected to have his contract renewed to the end of the season.
His path to Super 14 at the Brumbies looks to be blocked by Wallaby Stephen Moore and Huia Edmonds.
"I haven't played much this year," he said.
"The Force have given me an opportunity.
"I'd like to continue here but I've just turned 21 and I'll take the future as it comes."
