Who are the rugby union players making the switch to the NFL?

No less than four professional rugby players have committed to this year's NFL International Player pathway as they embark on the 'American Dream.'

The initiative created in 2017 was set up to broaden the league's global reach and bring in the best talent from overseas.

According to rugbypass.com, because of the failures of other rugby players in the past, some critics believe the program is aimed at giving the sport a global reach rather than developing players for the NFL.

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Here are the four players to try and make the switch from professional rugby to the NFL!

The biggest story and most notable rugby player to join the NFL Player Pathway is former Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit, who quickly established himself as one of the best wingers in rugby.

According to all.rugby.com, the Welsh winger burst onto the professional rugby scene at 18 years old and became a prolific try-scorer, scoring 42 tries in 77 games for Gloucester and 14 tries in 32 matches for Wales.

At 6ft3 and 98kg, the former winger has the physical capacity to play as a running back or wide receiver, and at 22 years old, the NFL prospect has time on his side to learn the NFL playbooks and develop into a perfect NFL player.

ESPN has also reported that former England youth star and Northampton Saints fly-half, Harry Mallinder quickly established himself as a premiere quicker in rugby union and hopes to become a punter in the NFL.

In 2016, Mallinder captained and kicked England to home triumph in the U20 World Championship, and a year later, he was in the England first-team squad, according to rugbypass.com, Tall, muscular, and quick, Mallinder is a perfectly built back for modern rugby.

A serious knee injury in 2018 hampered his progress in professional rugby, and he moved to Japan to reignite his career but failed to make a single appearance in Asia, according to espn.co.uk. The former England fly-half can start again in a different sport.

Irishman Darragh Leader has been a solid performer in rugby union for quite some time, playing as a full-back for Irish giants Connacht Rugby.

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The 6ft3 Irish man has an upper hand on the other players in the program as his brother (Tadhg Leader) runs a program in Ireland that helps players become potential punters in college football and the NFL, according to rugbypass.com.

Leader has been involved in the program as a tutor and hopes to take his skills and experience into becoming a punter in the NFL, as reported by irishnews.com. His brother (Tadhg) will be with him along the way as he has been offered the position of lead coach for the International Player Pathway kicking/punting group.

The former second-division English rugby player George Smith is the most unknown player on the list, but he has made strides in progression for Coventry Rugby this season.

Picture – X @CoventryRugby

At 6ft9 and 130kg, Smith has the physical acumen to dominate rugby as a second row in the future, but he has chosen to try and make it as a lineman in the NFL.

In his early 20's, time will tell if Smith can adjust to the physical demands of the NFL. According to thetelegraph.co.uk, Jordan Mailata made the transition from NRL to the NFL and has become a regular for the Philadelphia Eagles.

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