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The All Blacks who would have the best shot at making an NFL roster

Rieko Ioane and Tamaiti Williams of the All Blacks leave a New Zealand All Blacks training session at Stade Jacques-Chaban-Delmas on September 22, 2023 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit will pause his rugby career for a shot at the NFL’s international player pathway. He isn’t the first rugby prospect to try, but few have actually made an NFL roster after attempting such a switch.

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But the risk is worth the reward if Rees-Zammit can actually make a roster; he would be in line to significantly increase his earnings power.

England winger Christian Wade was a high-profile switch who scored a touchdown on his first carry in an NFL pre-season fixture, but didn’t end up making a 53-man roster.

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English schoolboy rugby prodigy Tyrese Johnson-Fisher made the move to the US early for an opportunity in the collegiate system, but an NFL career didn’t eventuate.

From down under, there are two major successful stories but from rugby league.

Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne actually made the San Francisco 49ers roster as punt returner after a stunning pre-season, featuring in six regular season games but was cut during the season after issues with run blocking and fumbles.

Former Australian rugby league prospect Jordan Mailata is the most successful code-convert, with the former Rabbitohs junior completing the international player pathway, becoming a starting tackle with the Philadelphia Eagles and banking a USD$64 million four-year contract extension in 2021.

From a New Zealand perspective, which athletes would conceivably have the best chance at making an NFL career had they made the move? Whilst the likelihood of a successful switch is low, there are a few intriguing prospects.

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Rieko Ioane – WR 

Described by conditioning coach Nic Gill as the best athlete he has seen through the All Blacks, Ioane is blessed with a rare combination of speed, power and size.

At 6’2 and 103kg Ioane is actually heavier than the average NFL wide receiver at around 90kg but is lean like most tall wide recievers. With his height Ioane would be a candidate to play outside the numbers as a WR1 or WR2. If he didn’t need the extra weight he could potentially be even quicker on the grid iron.

Ioane is perhaps the only athlete in New Zealand rugby that has the physical tools to make a push as a WR, but is too old now at 26 years old to undergo a switch.

Learning to run the route tree and digesting a huge NFL playbook, understanding defensive coverages, learning release techniques, locating the football, it’s all complex. It would take years to learn and turn into second nature, while getting to an NFL standard is no easy task.

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But as a pure athlete, yes, Ioane fits the prototype.

Caleb Clarke – RB

One of the most destructive runners in New Zealand, he is a power runner who could potentially make a living as a running back based on his athleticism.

A couple of years ago a Reddit user extrapolated Clarke’s electronically timed 40-metre sprint of 4.87 seconds into NFL-metrics, the 40-yard dash. In rugby boots on grass, the user calculated Clarke effectively ran a 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds.

A time between 4.3-4.6 is considered fast for wide receiver and running back prospects. As an example, Odell Beckham Jr ran 4.43 at the NFL combine in his trial.

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The kicker for Clarke is he is much bigger at 108kg than most of those skilled positions, and he ran his 40 without training for it and on a rugby field.

The Blues wing has such an explosive base and seemingly low centre of gravity despite being 6’2. He seems built for YAC (yards after contact).

Having developed catching skills through rugby, becoming a reliable catching option out of the backfield as an RB would be conceivable for Clarke.

It would be the detail that would be decisive factor in a successful move, with blocking schemes, playbooks all requiring deep knowledge.

From the looks of his arm strength that showed a 60-metre cannon, he could pull off trick plays too.

He attempted a code switch for 7s but a high-risk, high-reward NFL switch might have been a better option. It certainly would have paid better.

Tamiati Williams – OL

Lineman don’t grow on trees and few humans have the necessary size to play on the lines in the NFL. Last year’s All Black debutant Williams has that size at 6’5 and 140kg. The 23-year-old is a special athlete that doesn’t come around often in rugby.

His listed weight is exactly the average for an NFL offensive lineman, whilst his height is actually above average for the position.

Williams seems like an explosive type for his size too, carrying the ball with speed for a big man. Still just 23-years-old, Williams would be the best candidate from New Zealand’s professional rugby players to go through the NFL’s international player pathway.

As Jordan Mailata’s contract shows, tackles get paid big money to protect the quarterback. It may just be something he should seriously consider too.

He would earn more than his entire rugby career in less than half an NFL season as a starting lineman.

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P
PL 39 minutes ago
Lions Tour Aussie takes: Bigger is better, the stars who failed to fire

I find it interesting that journalists who have done nothing in rugby comment on selections & coaching like they are experts

Concussive injury’s will remove insurance cover from the game unless their is strict application of the laws designed to remove MND Parkinson’s and CTE from the game


Head on head I saw red to Adam Coleman as tackler for Irish while unconscious on a stretcher - concussions occur without twitching on the ground or the wobbly boot - I know I had maybe 20 from rugby


The officiating of last feet is non existent

The lack of effective wrap by Lions front rower & that decision had a close relationship with ordure in a toilet

A head on head tackle red for Coleman not even penalty lead to a try in a phase or 2


Powys v Evans lead to a £> 2 mill verdict against the ref personally special leveraged to Hiuse of Lords

Refs will stop reffing with no insurance then no game


About 5 years ago 4 or 5 French colts died from head hits in elite club games - that led to below sternum law - hamlets honoured in breach not observance

Last feet non existent - enforcement favour flowing rugby nor lions meat grinder forwards get momentum and puck & drive NZ Vowel noise


The UK Class Action could be very well be lost WRC will try every dirty trick in case they already used dial a neuros to argue the unarguable is law gossip


I reffed ref coached & assessed for ruffly 17 seasons


The application of laws is like a zig zag on speed

Line out laws not enforced scrums tight pulling loose down one side mirror on other side elbow pointing to ground stretch marks on jersey

Der moment the refs need to go Soec Savers

My bet unless they stop lack of intestinal fortitude game management


Yellow every time head contact or above sternum


Needs sterner GMGs material impact removed set piece caterpillar remove

Last feet to last feet + 1 m


When I reffed I kept them well apart - hated me till they got over yellow and they actually had fun & complemented me post game backs had room and pick and drive had momentum


As for intentional foul play like tackle in air auto red no replacement 100,000 fine player 250,000 club


Treble it for international 26 week suspension & it’s disappear over night

25 were scrum for dissent


Penalty all this rubbish shots at opponents after error


All the s.ite would disappear


The pathetic unsportsmanlike behaviour would lead to standards


Remember Les Boyd’s penalty re Brohman -if that is the way we treat foul play but while foul play with potential serious injury with a feather duster like we are the game is destined to no insurance following that no refs cause would you risk bankruptcy like Powys v Evans

1 Go to comments
S
Soliloquin 1 hour ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

For Fischer, many people in France are still doubting him - it’s the first time he has a full season (31 games). Before, he was always injured at some point. He’s 27, so not the youngest, and you have a younger Boudehent or Jégou behind.

His physicality is incredible, but he didn’t prove he’s got hands. He just proved he was able to defend like a beast.

But you know, even Cros has improved his handling skills lately, so it’s never too late!

And he will play the Champions Cup with a solid Bayonne side, so let’s see!


I don’t agree with ‘only Fischer’: Brennan proved he’s a great 4/7 utility player, and Galthié likes those very much (Woki or Flament). He’s 23, playing for Toulouse with high concurrence, so the prospect is good. I rate him higher than Auradou, who had a few games in the 6 Nations.

For Depoortère, he had a more silent season than the previous one - injured at the worst moment during the Autumn Tests series - but came back strong with a Champions Cup and a solid partnership with Moefana. What could save him would be to start playing as a 12 when Moefana isn’t there, bulking up and become the new Jauzion.

But he’s 22 and an incredible talent at 13. His height makes me think he had more potential than your fan favorite Costes or the utility player that is Gailleton.


As for Montagne or Mallez, with the lack of quality in props, they could find a spot!

Especially Mallez who’s got a good spot to get behind Baille at Toulouse. Neti isn’t the youngest and hasn’t an international level.


And again, as Ugo Mola said, you never play with your best team.

So 30-32 player is more of a 38-40, so you need back-ups.

France knows very well how useful they can be during RWCs.

236 Go to comments
S
Soliloquin 2 hours ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Hastoy was a good prospect before the 2023 RWC, he was the fly-half who led La Rochelle to the victory in the Champions Cup final in Dublin against Leinster.

But he made it to the squad only because Ntamack got his ACL.

He played against Uruguay, which a terribly poor game by the French side, and since then he declined a bit, alongside his club.

Under the pressure of Reus and West at 10, he regained some credit at the end of the season (among all a drop at the 81st minute of a game).

He’s quite good everywhere, but not outstanding.

He doesn’t have the nerves, the defense and the tactical brain of Ntamack, the leadership and the creativity of Ramos or the exceptional attacking skills of Jalibert.


I really hope that:

-Ntamack will get his knee back. The surgery went well. He wasn’t the most elusive player in the world, but he was capable of amazing rushes like the one against NZ in 2021 or the Brennus-winning try in 2023.

-Jalibert will continue to improve his defense. He started working hard since March (after his defensive disaster against England) with a XIII specialist, and I’ve seen great moments, especially against Ntamack in the SF of the Champions Cup. It’s never too late. And it would be a great signal for Galthié.

-Hastoy will build up his partnership with Le Garrec, that La Rochelle will start a new phase with them and Niniashvili, Alldritt, Atonio, Boudehent, Jegou, Bosmorin, Bourgarit, Nowell, Wardi, Daunivucu, Kaddouri, Pacôme…

236 Go to comments
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