- Rugby star Jordan Petaia is chasing his NFL desires
- He performed at two Rugby World Cups for the Wallabies
- Petaia will attend NFL improvement camp in Florida
Jordan Petaia plans to wow NFL scouts along with his versatility when the rugby union star takes his first and final probability to scratch an American soccer itch.
As revealed by AAP in September, two-time World Cup Wallaby Petaia has walked away from his Queensland Reds contract to strive his luck in the US.
The 24-year-old confirmed on Tuesday he’ll attend January’s unique NFL Worldwide Participant Pathway (IPP) improvement camp in Florida.
‘The choice to step away hasn’t been straightforward,’ he wrote in an Instagram put up on Tuesday.
‘I’ll without end be thankful for the experiences … it seems like the proper time in my profession to pursue this dream I’ve had for a very long time.
‘Thanks to the NFL IPP for giving me this as soon as in a lifetime alternative.’
Jordan Petaia (pictured) has stop rugby union to chase his NFL desires within the USA
Petaia, who performed for the Wallabies at two World Cups, has walked away from union
Off contract at Ballymore after November, Petaia has rehabilitated a shoulder damage that spoiled his 2024 season.
He has the blessing of the Reds, the place he’ll seemingly return if issues do not pan out at Bradenton’s IMG Academy sporting facility.
Petaia burst onto the scene with a historic Wallabies debut at simply 19 on the 2019 World Cup and was most well-liked at centre by Eddie Jones on the 2023 showpiece.
However, in between, his profession has been hampered by a wide range of accidents and he has been unable to decide on a most well-liked place after being tried within the centres, on the wing and at fullback.
Armed with a singular mixture of velocity, energy, agility and coordination, Petaia will try to show to scouts he can play quite a few positions, together with broad receiver, tight finish or on particular groups.
An extended-time NFL fan, Petaia knocked again profitable European rugby and NRL provides and can as an alternative hand over pay for a minimum of 5 months to pursue his American dream.
It is the identical program that kick-started Jordan Mailata’s NFL profession with Philadelphia, the Sydney big one in every of simply 5 internationals to crack an lively roster for the reason that program started in 2017.
The 24-year-old IPP cut-off means that is Petaia’s final probability to hitch that unique group.
He’ll attend January’s unique NFL Worldwide Participant Pathway (IPP) camp in Florida
Aussie Jordan Mailata made a profitable transfer to the NFL to play for Philadelphia
Final yr former Gold Coast VFL expertise Patrick Murtagh, a schoolboy decathlon champion, went from the IPP to the Detroit Lions earlier than becoming a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
However the tight finish was waived in August after breaking his ankle in coaching and by no means performed a sport.
Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne famously cracked the San Francisco 49ers lively squad as a working again, making eight appearances in 2015.
That was earlier than the arrival of the IPP, which was designed to streamline the inclusion of overseas expertise and never intrude with the normal draft system.
NRL flyer Valentine Holmes joined the New York Jets’ apply squad from the IPP in 2019 however shortly aborted after a pre-season of restricted alternatives.
However Petaia may gain advantage from a brand new rule launched final season that enables golf equipment to hold a world participant, along with their lively roster, that may play as much as three video games in a season.
There are at the moment 18 IPP merchandise on NFL rosters, together with Welsh rugby winger Louis Rees-Zammit, who’s on Jacksonville’s coaching squad after being among the many final reduce by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.