The British American Football Association, BAFA, has released its list of athletes who will be attending the inaugural CFL-UK Combine on Saturday, January 25 at SGS College, Bristol.
The Combine forms one of a series around the world allowing CFL staff to evaluate international athletes for potential selection by a CFL team to represent them during the 2020 season. In November, Randy Ambroise, CFL Commissioner, confirmed that among the nine teams, there would be a total of 45 practice squad and active roster spots assigned to global players from across all participating countries for the upcoming season.
At the Combine, players will be tested for specific athletic measurables and in positional drills to determine suitability.
The top players will be invited to Toronto from March 26-28 for the 2020 CFL Combine which will feature international prospects competing alongside their young Canadian counterparts from U SPORTS, the NCAA and junior football. The league’s biggest scouting event will be followed by two separate drafts in the spring – one for global players and one for Canadians.
In 2019, the CFL featured designated ‘global players’ from countries outside the U.S. and Canada on its nine member clubs – a first for the league.
As the CFL continues to deepen its international footprint and introduce new pathways for Canadians to play, it has also partnered with the leading gridiron football federations and leagues in Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Great Britain, and Sweden, and discussions with other federations are ongoing.
Michael Callan, BAFA Head of National Programme:
“The calibre of athlete applying to the UK Combine was extremely high. It’s a testament to how hard British players are working to develop themselves as athletes, and I’d expect to see some of these guys end up on one of the CFL rosters”.
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