Irish winger Aaron Sexton is the most recent rugby player to announce his intent to move to the United States to try out for the National Football League’s 2025 International Player Pathway program.
A former sprinter, the 24-year-old has scored one try in 10 appearances for Ulster. Sexton hopes to join former Australian rugby union star Jordan Petaia in an attempt to qualify for the NFL IPP. Petaia was announced as the maiden member of the 2025 International Player Pathway program (IPP). Both are attempting to follow in the footsteps of ex-Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit who stunned the rugby world by switching to American football. He is now on the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad roster.
Louis Rees-Zammit at practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. AP Photo/Kin-Cheung
It would seem that more and more rugby players will be attempting to make the jump to football. Apparently the Telegraph had seen a leaked email from the NFL to agents of rugby players inviting them to submit names of potential candidates for the IPP program. In that email, the NFL presented specific requirements. The candidates needed to be between the ages of 20 and 24, possess “outlier size” (6-3+), as well as good athleticism or kicking ability.
Allegedly, England international Joe Cokanasiga (6-4, 245 pounds) was approached and visited the NFL’s offices in London but ultimately decided to stay with rugby. Nevertheless, a number of other top players have shown interest according to the report including a number of South African players as well as a member of the French sevens team.
Mark Dulgerian, the lead scout for the IPP was quoted earlier this year about the number of players of the same caliber as Australian Jordan Mailata who is now the starting left tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles. The 6-8, 365 pound Mailata formerly played for South Sydney Rabbitohs U20s before becoming part of the IPP in 2018.
“When we talk to coaches and general managers they suggest there are not many Mailata’s out there, but physically there are. Quite a few of them. It is just the age, landing with the right team like Jordan did, a team which is willing to develop them. All the stars aligned for him.
“Unfortunately, there are some guys who did come to us who are a little bit older and well-known in the rugby world, but that is just not what NFL teams are looking for. They have accomplished a lot in rugby and maybe just want to try out football as their last hurrah in their athletic career, but the bottom line is we’re not in this to showcase a guy for marketing. We are looking for guys who are going to play and who we can develop.”
Source: Wales Online