Zaruba's NFL try out

[rowan]

When the NFL calls, it’s hard not to say no.

Adam Zaruba, Canadian rugby sevens star, is off to try out with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

The 26-year-old North Vancouver giant admits it’s all about unfinished business.

He played football in high school at Carson Graham and then was recruited to play at SFU but to put it in his words, “it didn’t work out.” He redshirted for a year for the Clan, didn’t play for his second, was ineligible for his third.

Eventually he found his way to rugby, was quickly spotted by the rugby sevens staff at Rugby Canada as a prospect and by 2014 was a full-time member of the national squad.


Fast-forward three years, and he’s made a name for himself on the international rugby stage. Now it’s time for a new big stage.

“It will be a really awesome thing for me as an athlete,” he said before flying out to Philadelphia on Friday.

“The window here is very small.”

After his World Rugby Sevens Series season came to an end in May, Zaruba got a call from a South African rugby agent who was developing contacts in the NFL.

“Would you like to try the NFL?” he was asked. It didn’t take long for Zaruba to say “yes.”



http://theprovince.com/sports/football/ ... ith-eagles

[rowan]

Step one accomplished for North Vancouver’s Adam Zaruba: he’s signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The giant rugby sevens winger tried out for the NFL team on Sunday.

Clearly the coaches liked what they saw.

“Now I just have to make it through camp,” he said in a text message exchange on Monday.

NFL teams are allowed to have 90 players at training camp; Zaruba is the now the 90th player to be added by the Eagles.

Most expect Zaruba to be slotted in at tight end, but 247 Sports speculates he might also see time at full back as the Eagles don’t currently have one on the roster.

They have to cut down to 53 by the beginning of the regular season. Five players additional players can be assigned to the practice squad.

http://theprovince.com/sports/football/ ... hia-eagles

[rowan]

[rowan]

Update:

Four days ago, the Eagles signed Zaruba to a three-year contract and watched their new tight end take the fields at the NovaCare Complex on Friday morning. After landing in Philadelphia last night around 9 p.m., the coaches are easing him into practice, working on his technique, and introducing him to the playbook. Zaruba has an opportunity to make the jump from professional rugby to the NFL.

Continues here: http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/ ... b9d2f868bf

[rowan]

Zaruba's first catch . . .

[rowan]

Not going too well, by the looks https://theprovince.com/sports/football ... ruba-again

[newgalesurf]

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