Former Wallabies participant Jordan Petaia will pursue his long-held dream of enjoying within the NFL after being handed a prized spot on the league’s worldwide participant pathway (IPP) programme.
The 24-year-old was introduced as the primary athlete of the programme’s 2025 class on Tuesday. Petaia will head out to the US in January for an unique 10-week coaching camp in Florida earlier than he will get a shot to impress membership scouts and win a spot on an NFL roster.
Petaia mentioned it was the appropriate time to stroll away from the Queensland Reds, along with his contract having expired in November and rehabilitation from a shoulder damage full. He leaves rugby union after successful 31 caps for Australia and changing into the youngest participant to look at two Rugby World Cups, Japan in 2019 and France in 2023.
“The choice to step away from rugby hasn’t been straightforward and one which took an excessive amount of consideration,” he mentioned. “I’d prefer to thank the workers, coaches and gamers on the Queensland Reds and the Wallabies for the final seven years. I can be perpetually grateful for the experiences, expertise and good mates that these groups have blessed me with.
“It appears like the appropriate time with my age and stage in life to pursue this dream I’ve had for a very long time. Thanks to everybody concerned within the NFL IPP program for giving me this as soon as in a lifetime alternative. I’m very grateful and excited for the expertise that lies forward. Wishing everybody in Rugby Australia the most effective for 2025 – I hope it’s an excellent yr and I can be supporting intently from afar.”
Petaia is aiming to comply with within the footsteps of Jordan Mailata, the Philadelphia Eagles offensive deal with from southwest Sydney. Mailata is one among simply six gamers to have come by way of the IPP programme and win a spot on an NFL membership’s lively roster because the scheme’s inception in 2017. Former Wales worldwide Louis Rees-Zammit is at the moment on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ follow squad after coming into the pathway in January 2024.
Born in Melbourne and raised in Brisbane, Petaia was launched into the highlight as a fresh-faced 19-year-old by then-Wallabies coach Michael Cheika on the 2019 Rugby World Cup, scoring in opposition to Uruguay with simply his second contact of the ball on his worldwide debut. He featured once more 4 years later underneath Eddie Jones in France, however accidents pockmarked his time in union and he was unable to decide on a most popular place.
Throughout a six-year profession in Tremendous Rugby, Petaia performed within the centres, on the wing and at fullback. His skillset and bodily attributes imply he can be appropriate for a lot of potential positions on an American soccer staff, together with large receiver or tight finish.
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Petaia, who performed 58 video games for the Reds and scored 80 factors, will prepare on the NFL Academy campus on the Gold Coast in preparation for the US camp.
