Rugby Star Jordan Petaia Takes a Bold Gamble—Swaps Wallabies Jersey for NFL

Renowned rugby star Jordan Petaia is taking an unexpected leap, trading his Wallabies jersey for a shot at the NFL, following in the footsteps of Louis Rees-Zammit and Jordan Mailata.

Having earned 31 caps and two Rugby World Cup experiences, the 25-year-old Australian decided to jump into the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, all in the hope of catching some scouts’ eyes and nabbing a contract.

The influence for this switch came largely from Rees-Zammit, who made a similar move last year and is now on the Jacksonville Jaguars roster. Petaia mentioned that he had chatted with Louis when he was first getting into the program, and he was totally behind him. He also pointed out that Mailata is probably the best in his role across the league.

Switching from rugby to American football is not a mean feat, it requires a complete change of pace, and yet Petaia is diving right in. He’s been training hard, adjusting his skills to suit a new sport, and his mix of speed, agility, and physical power makes him an appealing candidate for several positions.

The encouragement from both Rees-Zammit and Mailata seems to be fueling Petaia’s ambition. On Instagram Live, Mailata shared a few words of motivation, saying, “You have to want to jump over that hurdle. I want Louis to keep going. It’s not over yet, son,” Mailata stated on Instagram Live while addressing his own journey and offering words of motivation.

As Petaia gears up for his Pro Day showcase, the trend of moving from rugby to the NFL is gathering momentum, with top athletes breaking free from the traditional boundaries of their original sport.