Smith chases his American dream

WALES star Louis Rees-Zammit is not the only rugby player from the English leagues set to try his luck in America.

- BEN JAYCOCK

Despite going through life with no interest in American football, Coventry’s giant forward George Smith has decided to enter the NFL’s International Player Pathway programme in the hope of making a roster for the 2024 season.

Christian Wade, Alex Gray and Christian Scotland-Williamson have all attempted it in previous years.

The 16 participants in this year’s IPP programme also includes former Northampton and England U20s back Harry Mallinder, below. Mallinder, 27, played for Saints from 2013 to 2021 before switching to Black Rams Tokyo.

The versatile back, who could play fly-half, centre and full-back, is entering the pathway as a kicker and punter.

While Rees-Zammit described reaching the NFL as a ‘lifelong dream’, his British compatriot Smith knew very little about the sport before being cherry picked by head of IPP James Cook six months ago.

An aspiring right or left tackle, Smith possesses a towering frame of 6ft 9ins and was just over 19 stone while playing in Coventry’s second row this season. However, with heft a premium in the offensive line that weight has shot up to almost 22st in the build up to his gridiron adventure.

Smith flew out on Thursday to Bradenton, Florida as he spends 10 weeks at IMG Academy before playing in front of a team of scouts at a pro day held at the University of South Florida ahead of the NFL Draft.

Smith told The Rugby Paper