RWU HQ – There’s no denying that rugby players can translate on the gridiron and vice versa, and it seems like Wigan Warriors coach Shaun Wane is starting to catch on to the trend.
Wane told reporters recently that he has started looking to the NFL for possible rugby talent.
“I am always looking at every single sport trying to get somebody special,” said the Super League rugby coach, via The Guardian. “I was looking before this marquee rule came about. I’m looking at the NFL, Canadian rugby union, every sport, the weirdest sports I look at to see if they have that ingredient that will make a good rugby player.
“It’s important that you keep your eyes open – we got Anthony Gelling from nowhere and he’s been a great success for us. We had a French rugby league player a few weeks ago who got injured in his first session. We’ll take risks, have a look at loads of people, cast our net, as they say.”
After watching dual-sport athletes like Nate Ebner flourish in both rugby and football and Jarryd Hanye making a smooth transition from Rugby League into the NFL, there is evidence to prove that this transition is doable. And coaches like Wane are on the right track trying to find that diamond in the rough on the back end of NFL rosters.
‘‘I am looking everywhere,’’ Wane said, via the Manchester Evening News. ‘‘I look at Canada, the NFL and all over. If we feel someone could do a job then we will take a look and consider it.
‘‘I have already seen a few.”
With NFL rosters shrinking from 90 men to 53 over the next couple of months, there will be plenty of talent looking to continue their athletic careers, even if that doesn’t mean they stay in football. Not to mention, even the first man cut from any roster during training camp will be one of the most physically fit athletes in the world and would be worth testing out on the pitch.
Keep an eye out for some of these types of moves to come August.
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