Jordan Petaia is part of the IPP this year
Jordan Petaia is part of the IPP this year
Louis Rees-Zammit shared a phone call with Australian rugby superstar Jordan Petaia in a move that helped convince him to join him in the US and pursue a career in the NFL.
Petaia was one of the major stars of the Wallabies team, making 31 appearances and going to two Rugby World Cups, but he decided to leave the sport and join the same International Play Pathway programme the Welshman came through a year ago. On Wednesday he will attempt to impress scouts and earn an NFL deal at the IPP pro day, which Rees-Zammit took part in.
Rees-Zammit has gone on to earn deals with Kansas City Chiefs and current team Jacksonville Jaguars, who have given him a contract on their active roster ahead of next season.
Both men hope to follow the remarkable success of Jordan Mailata, the Australian former rugby player who his one of the biggest names in the NFL and recently lifted the Super Bowl with Philadelphia Eagles.
Petaia, 25, revealed to the Mirror US the advice he has received from the Welshman and his countryman, who have both inspired and convinced him to take the plunge.
"I spoke to Louis Rees-Zammit when he entered the program last year and I was fully supportive of him and thought that was awesome for him to make the league and do so well in that. Jordan Mailata, coming from Australia, he's probably the best in his position in the league, so he's done tremendous.
"We were lucky enough to spend some time with him in camp here and learn from him and take a lot of good advice. He just told us to keep our heads down and work hard; I think work ethic's the biggest thing they thrive on here. It's just about covering all aspects of the game and not getting too ahead of yourself - and just enjoying it as well. It's easier to look far ahead without worrying about tomorrow, so I think that's the biggest thing Louis and Jordan said."
Rees-Zammit all but revealed Petaia's plan to join him in the NFL back in October, telling RugbyPass: “There are definitely rugby players that I think could make it in the NFL. I mean, I know one person that’s going to try soon.
“I mean, I don’t want to ruin things for him but he’s Australian, and yeah, he plays in Australia, and he’s a good athlete. He’s young and still playing union, and he’s a centre.”
Jordan Petaia (Image: Getty Images)
In addition to Mailata, Jarryd Hayne, another former NRL star, previously made headlines when he broke into the San Francisco 49ers' active squad as a running back, featuring in eight games in 2015. Petaia is eager to demonstrate that he fits into this new world, buoyed by the excitement of his Australian teammates as he steps into an exciting new journey.
"I started playing rugby at quite a young age, and I saw all the other Aussies sort of go over, other fellow rugby players as well go over in their careers and have a crack," he explained. "I think that's something I looked up to and drew inspiration from and, as a fan of the game and someone who loves the aspect of playing sports at a high level, I thought with the opportunity there, it's something I always wanted to go chase after and pursue.
"It's definitely something I spoke about early on in my rugby career and jerked around about. When the opportunity came, I couldn't turn it down. I just want to give it everything I got."
Petaia, who made his mark by debuting for the Wallabies at only 19 during the 2019 World Cup and played centre for Eddie Jones at the 2023 tournament, has faced interruptions in his career through injuries. Despite this, his exceptional athletic qualities – speed, power, agility, and coordination – are undeniable and similar to Rees-Zammit.
Rees-Zammit is at the Jaguars
Petaia will showcase his versatile capabilities in hopes of impressing scouts on Wednesday, aiming to demonstrate that he can play a range of positions such as receiver, tight end, and even special teams roles. His talent has been praised by IPP coaches in Florida for his versatile defensive coverage.
The question now is where the Australian star's wide-ranging skillset will fit best in the line-up.
"I've been doing a little bit of tailback too- just trying my hand all over the place," Petaia remarked. "I'm loving it all. I think it's probably more the schemes and the plays that, you know, that probably, yeah, light my eyes up the most."
But how does the impact of tackles in rugby stack up against those in the NFL?
"Oh, yeah, no, these guys definitely hit hard here," Petaia remarked with a grin. "Nah, the collisions are different. You feel them. It's very intense."