Former Rugby Union Player Travis Clayton Selected by Buffalo Bills in 2024 NFL Draft

Former rugby union player Travis Clayton has made headlines after being selected by the Buffalo Bills in the 2024 NFL draft. The 23-year-old Englishman, who has never played a game in American football, was chosen with the 221st overall pick in the seventh round.

Standing at an impressive 6ft 7in, Clayton previously played eighth-tier rugby for his hometown club, Basingstoke, in the Counties 2 Hampshire Division. Despite his lack of experience in the sport, he was selected from the NFL’s international player pathway programme as an offensive lineman.

Clayton took to social media to express his gratitude to fans in the UK for their support throughout his journey. In a post, he stated, “Just want to shout out all the UK fans for sticking by me and supporting me and look, I’ve made it to the NFL and now it’s time to represent and show the rest of the world exactly why UK athletes should play in the NFL.”

During the draft combine, Clayton impressed scouts with a remarkable 40-yard dash time of 4.79 seconds, faster than any offensive lineman has recorded in the past decade, according to the Bills.

This move follows in the footsteps of former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, who recently signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. Rees-Zammit, who transitioned from rugby union to American football earlier this year, caught the attention of the Chiefs with his skills as a running back and wide receiver.

With both Clayton and Rees-Zammit making waves in the NFL, it’s clear that the talent and athleticism of rugby players are being recognized on the American football stage. Fans will undoubtedly be eager to see how these former rugby stars perform in their new sport.