"I had bought myself a little French book and started learning a bit but put it down. It was great to get a late call-up though.
"I was just getting ready to go play a club match about an hour out from leaving when I got the call and they said to put it on hold. I was pretty keen to play that day but I was very fortunate to get that call up.
"France will be a great change of scenery. I've only gone to Australia really. I'm trying to pick up a bit of French. It'll be quite fun and it's another great opportunity to play footy."
Gregory's road to the squad hasn't been smooth. His own injury issues (stress fractures in his back) meant he missed the majority of the 2017 season and forced him to dig deep to return to a high level of play.
Injuries and strong form of players ahead of him meant his debut for Northland is still a date to be decided but once on the field in 2018, Gregory showed the promise that saw him signed to Northland straight out of high school.
He said he received plenty of help from those around him which kept him on track.
"First year out of school I was recovering from a back injury so it was a bit slow going to start with," he said.
"I was out for about eight months but there was a lot of help with the Northland support staff. I was in the academy straight out of school and they were really helpful with their advice.
"I had about four or five games last year which was tough.
"It was always going to be tough to get this point but I never wrote off the cards. It's great to be here and it was always a goal to be here and be one of the few that make it."
The pathway to national representation is never the easiest path for athletes hailing from Te Tai Tokerau.
It's not the biggest sporting centre in the same vein as an Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch.
However, athletes from the area are imbued with a steely edge in their determination to rise through the ranks. Gregory, like many before him, looks to have that quality.
Gregory said the onus is on the individual to get themselves to the top levels.
"There's opportunity everywhere and if you work hard enough your talent will find your way out. You don't have to be from the big areas to make it.
"If you play your cards right, work hard, get the right help from others and apply yourself you can make it no matter where you are from."
With a trip to France to take on the best young players in the world, Gregory has been soaking up as much as he can from the New Zealand setup.
Their recent Oceania Championship victory puts them in good stead to join their 2017 counterparts on the World Cup trophy.
The squad, again like in 2017, features a dose of players who have been involved at both Mitre 10 Cup and Super Rugby level.
Backs Caleb Clarke, Vilimoni Koroi and Bailyn Sullivan each tasted Mitre 10 Cup rugby action while Clarke and captain and loose forward Tom Christie return from the successful 2017 venture.
Gregory said the Oceania effort was enjoyable but taught him some valuable lessons.
"It was a great experience and part of the dream. I learnt just to be myself out there and not let the big moments get to you," he said.
"People can let it fluster them but you've got to remember you've played a thousand games before.
"We've tried to put [winning the 2017 World Cup] aside. It's a new year and we've got a new group so we're just focused on what we can do when we get there."
And this may not be Gregory's only tilt at the world title as he is one of eight members in the squad eligible for U20 selection in 2019.
