In just under two weeks, almost two hundred athletes will take the field at TCF Stadium in Minnesota for the first-ever National Rugby Football League scouting combine. The venture is the brainchild of Minnesota-based RugbyLaw who have been working on the project for the last six years. The group had attempted to roll out the combine and subsequent Independence Cup last year, but timing and other issues forced a delay. With most of those issues now settled, the combine moves forward and there is a great deal of optimism that the Independence Cup series will take place later in the summer.
The group had initially planned the combine to use as a scouting combine for their own venture with the combine targeting the signing of approximately 30 players to train with former Ireland and Eagles Head Coach Eddie O’Sullivan. The training is in preparation for a home/away series this coming summer against an English Premiership side. The squad and games are intended to be used as the seed for an expanded 6-12 team NRFL competition to kick off next spring.
However, the combine has taken on a bit of an added angle in recent weeks as turnout has been well better than expected.
The fact that between 160-180 elite level athletes, both with and without rugby experience, will be on display in one place has also opened quite a few eyes around the rugby world.
“Interest has been very high,†says NRFL Director of Player Recruitment Shawn Zobel. “Most players that we have spoken with have expressed that they appreciate another opportunity for a professional sports career. Many are former NFL or top college football players, but there are some rugby players as well.â€
Of those on the list of attendees there are approximately 60 players that have recently been on NFL rosters. The list of players covers just about every NFL squad and includes former All-Americans, Heisman hopefuls, as well as players that were in Super Bowls. However, the recruitment process wasn’t all about bringing in every single player that was ever on the NFL radar.
“We are looking for smart players that give us an indication that they can convert to rugby,†added Zobel who spent the last year taking a crash course in rugby to learn the characteristics, both physical and mental, that make up the best rugby players.
Thretton Palamo is, perhaps, the most notable name on the rugby list. After becoming the youngest player to ever play in a Rugby World Cup, Palamo ended up exploring college football and played at the University of Utah. Having finished his college eligibility, Palamo has returned to rugby and was most recently training at the Olympic Training Center. Palamo is still fairly young at 25 years old, powerful, and most importantly… he is already capped which is important for players looking to ply their trade overseas. He presents an intriguing option for not only overseas scouts, but for the NRFL’s Independence Cup side.
This gathering of potential talent has brought attention to the NRFL combine. Grenoble from France and Munster from Ireland will send scouts to combine. It is possible to include at least one Super Rugby representative. Premiership sides Saracens and Harlequins have both been confirmed as sending representatives to the combine and there could be as many as six Premiership sides sending scouts.
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