Rugby Union 23/24 Discussion

T00lsh3d said:
Surely he must have had some unofficial discussions with a team(s). Be a hell of a gamble if not, he’d probably get an easy 300k+ offer from a number of union clubs
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Minimum salary would be $750k if he makes an NFL roster, even above $200k if he only makes a practice squad for an entire season.

Even if he fails I reckon he could just return to rugby and still get a top-end contract given how talented he is and what he's already shown at a young age? Low risk, high reward move to me.
 
T00lsh3d said:
Surely he must have had some unofficial discussions with a team(s). Be a hell of a gamble if not, he’d probably get an easy 300k+ offer from a number of union clubs
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I’m guessing he’ll have applied and been accepted by the NFLs International Player Pathway Program which is their initiative to open the sport up more internationally.
 
RobinLFC said:
Minimum salary would be $750k if he makes an NFL roster, even above $200k if he only makes a practice squad for an entire season.

Even if he fails I reckon he could just return to rugby and still get a top-end contract given how talented he is and what he's already shown at a young age? Low risk, high reward move to me.
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Yeah maybe so. The history of rugby returners isn’t great, though I don’t know if any NFL converts were as young as LRZ is.

Either way, kid prefers California to Gloucester. And everyone prefers everywhere to Wales. Sounds fair enough to me
 
Alanxyz said:
I’m guessing he’ll have applied and been accepted by the NFLs International Player Pathway Program which is their initiative to open the sport up more internationally.
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I have absolutely no idea how NFL works to be honest. Just seems a bit of a leap without having had an unofficial chat with someone who might pay him
 
T00lsh3d said:
Surely he must have had some unofficial discussions with a team(s). Be a hell of a gamble if not, he’d probably get an easy 300k+ offer from a number of union clubs
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I don’t think it’s that simple. Here’s some info on the route he’s using. Apparently none of the IPP athletes from 2023 were on active rosters this year, but even being on a practice squad can earn £170k on average. I’m sure he’ll come back to rugby in a few years if not successful and earn a wedge anyway.

https://operations.nfl.com/journey-...impact/international-players-road-to-the-nfl/

Edit. Whoops, missed everyone else replying on the following page.
 
Christian Wade was a bloody good running back (relatively speaking) and he came back to Union having never made a roster in the NFL. Closest he got was a practice squad I believe.

I’ll be stunned if Zammit gets even that far. The skills of a rugby player are too broad and spread out about all aspects of play to compete with the physical freaks of American Football who dedicate their lives to excelling in one specific, narrow area of play.
 
Dan_F said:
I don’t think it’s that simple. Here’s some info on the route he’s using. Apparently none of the IPP athletes from 2023 were on active rosters this year, but even being on a practice squad can earn £170k on average. I’m sure he’ll come back to rugby in a few years if not successful and earn a wedge anyway.

https://operations.nfl.com/journey-...impact/international-players-road-to-the-nfl/

Edit. Whoops, missed everyone else replying on the following page.
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:lol: Effort appreciated nonetheless
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Apparently RZS has logged a faster top speed than any NFL players this season. Thinking about it, a kick return specialist is a fairly natural position for a rugby full back?
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NFL speeds are measured in-game with cleats on though, I'm guessing rugby players just have their kits on and no additional gear?
 
Joe Schmidt is set to be announced as the new Wallabies coach in the next few days.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Apparently his old man is an NFL obsessive. So he’s definitely been heavily exposed to it growing up.
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yeah I saw that but I just struggle to believe that is the main reason (over money)

I've never met anyone who gives a feck about NFL in Wales
 
Tarrou said:
yeah I saw that but I just struggle to believe that is the main reason (over money)

I've never met anyone who gives a feck about NFL in Wales
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You'd be surprised. Personally, I don't understand why anyone would give a feck about the NFL (who isn't American) but there are hardcore fans all over the world. Even in Wales! There's even a Welsh NFL team, the Cardiff BayTigers. Who his dad apparently played for. I'd say watching your old man play a sport must give you a fairly legitimate interest in it.
 
Xaviesta said:
Joe Schmidt is set to be announced as the new Wallabies coach in the next few days.
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Wow. Strong appointment I guess.

Although I’m not fully sure how his risk adverse, “I’ll drop you if you try an offload” game play will marry with the traditional Aussie way of playing ball.
 
diarm said:
Wow. Strong appointment I guess.

Although I’m not fully sure how his risk adverse, “I’ll drop you if you try an offload” game play will marry with the traditional Aussie way of playing ball.
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At this stage they’re so shite that just winning a few matches will be more than enough for them to love the bloke.

This appointment is great news for the Lions tour, which has suddenly become a lot more interesting.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
At this stage they’re so shite that just winning a few matches will be more than enough for them to love the bloke.

This appointment is great news for the Lions tour, which has suddenly become a lot more interesting.
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I hadn’t thought of that! Great shout!
 
Pogue Mahone said:
At this stage they’re so shite that just winning a few matches will be more than enough for them to love the bloke.

This appointment is great news for the Lions tour, which has suddenly become a lot more interesting.
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Yeah I get what you are saying and it's possible. But just how big of an NFL fan do you need to be to give up representing your country in a sport your own country are fanatical about? It's proper mental if that's true.

Of course, the fact the highest paid rugby players get paid the same as the lowest paid NFL players has nowt to do with it!
 
I wonder if RZS has run in the full gear? Probably has, good luck to him coming from an Englishman glad to see the back of him, which is what most English players saw. The Irish will win the Championship, France second, England third and a toss up for the other places.
 
Offsideagain said:
I wonder if RZS has run in the full gear? Probably has, good luck to him coming from an Englishman glad to see the back of him, which is what most English players saw. The Irish will win the Championship, France second, England third and a toss up for the other places.
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nah. i reckon he’s giving it a try without even knowing the first thing about it. just sees it as a way of boning birds like taylor swift.
 
Joe Schmidt has been announced as the new Wallabies coach on a 2 year deal.
 
Tarrou said:
Yeah I get what you are saying and it's possible. But just how big of an NFL fan do you need to be to give up representing your country in a sport your own country are fanatical about? It's proper mental if that's true.

Of course, the fact the highest paid rugby players get paid the same as the lowest paid NFL players has nowt to do with it!
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What does this have to do with Joe Schmidt coaching the Aussies :confused:
 
unchanged_lineup said:
I was watching it live and I may be biased as a Connacht supporter, but I thought it was 100% deliberate. Bealham was very lucky not to get a stud in the eye.
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Looks that way to me as well, bealham is a lucky boy not to have an eye injury, didn’t Keith wood get cited for something similar back in the day playing for Ireland.

Coombes looks to be getting his confidence back, which is badly needed
 
Offsideagain said:
I wonder if RZS has run in the full gear? Probably has, good luck to him coming from an Englishman glad to see the back of him, which is what most English players saw. The Irish will win the Championship, France second, England third and a toss up for the other places.
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England 3rd is not guaranteed. Scotland don't have the churn that other teams have with players retired etc. They could be in the top 3 for this 6 nations.
 
It always surprises me how little we see things like that happening in rucks. I’m not sure if that means it’s likely just a rare accident, or it’s intentional and could have been avoided.
 
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