Will The NFL Attract Rugby's Top Talent
Over the last couple of seasons we have seen a couple of international rugby players head across the pond and try their arm at playing in the NFL. Two years ago it was Christian Wade who at the time would have raised some eyebrows because he is not exactly the most talented rugby player around and has his limitations. He failed to make the cut and has since returned to playing rugby.
Louis Rees-Zammit quit his international rugby career back in January this year to join the International Player Pathway (IPP) development camp. This camp is held over 10 weeks. Rees then moved onto the Pro day which puts you in the spotlight in front of all the agents. After all was said and done there were a reported 6 teams interested in the player with the end result the Kansas Chiefs signing him up on a 3 year contract.
There are no guarantees he will make the cut but with a 3 year contract has given himself the best opportunity to make the final squad whether it is this year or next. His rugby union salary was a reported $225K per year which now looks like a good move because he moves onto a standard $900K per season. This is 4 x what he was earning before and will rise again if he makes the final squad.
Will this open the door for more rugby players to try their luck next season because again Rees Zammit is a good rugby player, but by no means was he considered a top player in his position. I can think of at least 12 others who have far more to offer and that is not exaggerating either.
The new laws that have been changed for this season with the kick offs play into a rugby players strengths. The space that has now been created for the receiving kick pays into the hands of a talented runner with fleet of foot who can change direction on a six pence.
The physical challenges of the NFL are no problem because rugby doesn't have all the protection NFL players have and what the players endure over 80 minutes is far more physical than what the NFL offers. In rugby there is no offensive and defensive teams and you are on for the entirety of the match unless you are substituted.
What this means that if you are in the offensive named team you are only playing for roughly half a game and it is actually less demanding on your body which should pro long your career. An NFL actual game time is only 60 minutes with 4 quarters of 15 minutes each so a player would expect to be playing for roughly half that time compared to rugby with 80 minutes play time involved.
I actually knew a few players who went across back in the 1980's with Cliffie Brown who was a place kicker and played for the New Orleans Saints. He was one of my coaches who helped me train with my kicking skills which I learned a great deal from him mainly with accuracy.
Over the coming years the chances are we will see more rugby players moving to look at the financial gains possible. A top rugby player will make in the region of $1 million per season and that dwarfs in comparison to what the NFL can offer with the top player making a reported 50 x that amount. True this is a sport with way different rules to learn, but todays athletes play via a set move system so it is more about learning the rules of the sport and then they will flourish.
You also have to take into account that most of the players come over as kickers, so the actual amount of time the spend on the field is pretty insignificant.
Yes except these are running backs and not kickers. This is a step in another direction because finding decent kickers is easy.
That could be very exciting. Some of those fellas have some moves!
Yes because they would not be thinking like someone who was raised up on the sport and it would not be what everyone would expect. Flair and a new train of thought will definitely change the game.