Australian Rugby Star Takes Unconventional Route to Pursue American Football Dream
In a surprising move, 24-year-old rugby sensation Jordan Petaia has turned down lucrative offers from European rugby and NRL teams to chase his dream of playing in the NFL. Instead, he’ll attend an exclusive development camp in Florida, sacrificing at least five months of pay.
Petaia, a two-time World Cup star, will participate in the International Player Pathway (IPP) program, which has successfully launched the careers of several international players, including Sydney native Jordan Mailata, who now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Queensland Reds, Petaia’s current team, are supportive of his ambition and are working to ensure he’s fully recovered from a shoulder injury that cut short his 2024 campaign. The team is confident that if Petaia doesn’t secure an NFL deal, he’ll return to Ballymore rather than joining a rival Super Rugby Pacific club.
Petaia’s speed, agility, and explosive power make him an attractive prospect for NFL teams, and he’s open to playing multiple positions, including defense and as a wide receiver or tight end. His performance at the Florida camp, which is closely monitored by every NFL club, could be his ticket to the big leagues.
Former rugby and NRL stars have attempted to make the transition to the NFL, with varying degrees of success. Jarryd Hayne, for example, played eight games for the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, while Valentine Holmes joined the New York Jets’ practice squad in 2019.
Petaia may benefit from a new rule introduced last season, allowing clubs to carry an international player who can play up to three games in a season. With 18 IPP products currently on NFL rosters, including Welsh rugby winger Louis Rees-Zammit, Petaia’s chances of making it to the NFL are higher than ever.
This is Petaia’s last chance to trial, and he’s taking a bold risk by putting his rugby career on hold. But if he succeeds, he’ll become one of the few athletes to successfully transition from rugby to the NFL.
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