British American Football Association announce first ever UK Canadian Football League Combine

The British American Football Association, BAFA is joining the growing list of nations forming partnerships with the Canadian Football League and has announced the first ever UK Canadian Football League Combine to be held in Bristol on January 25, 2020.

Previously, both Italy and France have announced plans to hold combines in their respective countries.

The combine, hosted in conjunction with Bristol Academy PRIDE, will put athletes through drills to determine athletic and position specific ability.

Successful athletes selected by the CFL will then be invited to compete at the CFL’s own combine in Canada in March 2020 and take part in their annual draft – which means the potential to be selected by one of the CFL teams to represent them in their upcoming season.

Details of how to apply and the minimum standards expected will be released shortly, but candidates should be elite performers aged between 22-29 and be either a British national or have been a registered BAFA member for the 2019 or 2020 seasons.

BAFA Director Bruce Leatherman commented:

“The partnership with the CFL has helped BAFA realize one of its primary goals – to establish a true pathway to allow athletes achieve their utmost potential in football. The standard expected is, naturally, extremely high, but we can now provide clear goals for members to focus on to develop themselves into professional athletes in our sport.”

He added:

“We’re already in discussion with the CFL as to how we can offer similar experiences for our coaches and officials, who give up so much of their free time to help our sport grow. I’d also like to thank coach Ben Herod and the Bristol Academy of Sport for their support in hosting the combine and enabling us to offer a tremendous opportunity to athletes in the UK.”

In March 2019, 18 international players competed at the 2019 CFL Combine alongside Canadian players eligible for CFL Draft.  The players all came from top club leagues in Europe, with the exception of two French players attending from Canadian university football (USport) and one Italian player from an American junior college football. Nine players were selected to join CFL teams.Of those nine, five ended up on CFL rosters.