Former Wallabies participant Jordan Petaia will pursue his long-held dream of taking part in 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 precise time to stroll away from the Queensland Reds, together with his contract having expired in November and rehabilitation from a shoulder damage full. He leaves rugby union after profitable 31 caps for Australia and turning into the youngest participant to seem at two Rugby World Cups, Japan in 2019 and France in 2023.
“The choice to step away from rugby hasn’t been simple and one which took an excessive amount of consideration,” he mentioned. “I’d wish to thank the employees, coaches and gamers on the Queensland Reds and the Wallabies for the final seven years. I will likely be eternally grateful for the experiences, abilities and good mates that these groups have blessed me with.
“It looks like the precise 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 very best for 2025 – I hope it’s an amazing yr and I will likely be supporting intently from afar.”
Petaia is aiming to observe 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 means of the IPP programme and win a spot on an NFL membership’s energetic roster because the scheme’s inception in 2017. Former Wales worldwide Louis Rees-Zammit is at present on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ apply squad after getting 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 beneath Eddie Jones in France, however accidents pockmarked his time in union and he was unable to choose 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 could be appropriate for a variety 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 practice on the NFL Academy campus on the Gold Coast in preparation for the US camp.
