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Worcester Warriors lock Christian Scotland-Williamson is making the move to the NFL, or at least that’s what the giant-sized forward is hoping. One of the biggest men in the Aviva Premiership at 2.05m (6’9″) and 125kg (275lbs), the 24-year-old has made the surprise announcement that he will leave Worcester immediately and move to Florida to begin intensive training in American Football with the hopes of grabbing the attention of NFL scouts.
He’s not the first to attempt the switch. Daniel Adongo, Jarryd Hayne, and US Eagles lock Ben Landry are among those who have been wooed by dreams of a big payday in the USA’s most popular spectator sport. Former Eagles lock Hayden Smith spent one season with the New York Jets. More recently Canada Sevens star Adam Zaruba had a trial with the Philadelphia Eagles, and former England Sevens standout Alex Gray is currently on the books of the Atlanta Falcons though he has yet to play a regular season game.
Scotland-Williamson is noted for his athleticism and obvious strength in the contact area but whether he can make the switch full-time to the ultra-competitive NFL remains to be seen. He will attempt to make the grade as a tight end, where his size and reach are desirable. Competing with the speed and footwork of smaller players will be the challenge.
Should the move not come off a return to rugby is always an option, and with Major League Rugby set to launch in the USA this year perhaps he could find a home with one of the teams, possibly combining his time between the two. He will not be short of rugby connections in the USA with Joe Taufete’e and Andrew Durutalo his teammates at Worcester and Gary Gold also departing the Warriors to take up his new role as Head Coach of the Eagles.
