The NFL have emailed the representatives of several top rugby stars to gauge their interest in switching sports, according to reports. Rugby players attempting to forge NFL careers is nothing new, with Louis Rees-Zammit the highest-profile star to make the switch.
The former Wales winger turned his back on rugby last year to chase his dream of playing in the NFL. He was initially picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs but failed to make their active roster and is now on the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad.
Others, such as Christian Wade and Hayden Smith, have swapped rugby for the NFL with varying degrees of success. It seems more players could follow suit over the coming months, with the league stepping up their efforts to recruit overseas talent.
An email was sent out earlier this year inviting top rugby players to register their interest in joining the International Player Pathway, according to The Telegraph. The requirements set out by the NFL in the email asked for potential recruits to meet certain criteria.
It said that players should be between 20 and 24 years of age in addition to possessing ‘outlier’ size, with a minimum height of six feet and three inches. Strong athleticism and kicking ability were also listed as preferential qualities for new recruits.
The email also said that any potential ‘current contractual obligations’ could be discussed in order to facilitate a switch from rugby to the NFL.
The age range is said to be particularly important, with many players having reached out to the NFL with the aim of joining the International Player Pathway only to be rejected because they were too old.
Mark Dulgerian, the lead scout on the International Player Pathway, said: “Unfortunately, there are some guys who did come to us who are a little bit older and well-known in the rugby world, but that is just not what NFL teams are looking for.
“They have accomplished a lot in rugby and maybe just want to try out football as their last hurrah in their athletic career, but the bottom line is we’re not in this to showcase a guy for marketing. We are looking for guys who are going to play and who we can develop.”
The report adds that several players in the Gallagher Premiership and the United Rugby Championship have already expressed an interest in switching to the NFL. A trial event took place earlier this month, with 15 athletes picked by NFL scouts invited to take part.
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