Former Wallabies star Jordan Petaia signed by Los Angeles Chargers

Former Wallabies star Jordan Petaia has joined NFL team the Los Angeles Chargers as part of the International Player Pathway training program.

Petaia, 25, had spent the last few months at the IMG Academy in Florida, learning American football after winding up his rugby career in 2024 following an injury-marred Super Rugby season with Queensland Reds.

The Australian, who played 31 Tests for the Wallabies and featured at both the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups, then strutted his stuff at the pro day at the University of South Florida last week.

And he has now graduated to the next step of his football education, Petaia signed as a tight end by the Chargers.

Petaia is the latest professional rugby player to try his hand at a code switch, after Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit graduated from the same program last year and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. He has later cut by the Chiefs before being picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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