English rugby union winger Travis Clayton has made headlines after being selected by the Buffalo Bills in the final round of the NFL Draft. The 23-year-old, who has never played American football competitively, is expected to make the transition to playing as an offensive lineman for the NFL team.
Currently playing for Basingstoke in the eighth tier of domestic rugby, Clayton’s switch to American football has been described as “extraordinary” by his coach. The winger was selected from the NFL’s International Player Pathway programme, which aims to develop talent from outside the United States.
At the NFL Combine, Clayton impressed scouts by completing the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.79 seconds. The Bills were particularly impressed by his speed, stating that it was the fastest recorded time for an offensive lineman in the past 10 years.
NFL franchises are allowed additional spots in their practice squads for international players, giving Clayton an opportunity to further develop his skills in the American football. Teams are also permitted to promote international players from practice squads to the active roster up to three times during the season.
Clayton is not the only rugby player to make the switch to the NFL, with former Wales rugby union star Louis Rees-Zammit joining the Kansas City Chiefs in March of this year. The trend of rugby players transitioning to American football highlights the growing opportunities for athletes to showcase their talents on a global stage.
