South African players in the Premiership and URC are reportedly among the potential candidates looking to follow Louis Rees-Zammit’s switch to American football.
According to the UK’s Telegraph Sport, the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program has specific requirements for prospects, including being aged between 20 to 24 and being over 1.93m tall, with exceptional athleticism or kicking ability.
The Telegraph reveals that private workouts are planned for South African-based players who couldn’t obtain visas for recent trials at Loughborough University.
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These players would join the final group travelling to Florida in January for the IPP program.
However, the Telegraph notes that contractual obligations remain a “major hurdle” for professional rugby players considering the switch, with potential salary drops during the developmental phase being a significant consideration.
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