The NFL will expand its international search for talent by opening an academy in rugby-mad Australia to develop promising teenagers in the Asia-Pacific region into college and professional prospects.
The NFL Academy will open in September to student-athletes ages 12 to 18 following recruiting camps in Australia and New Zealand this summer, the league announced Thursday.
Before the NFL Draft, Live on Sky SportsThe announcement said the region is full of talent, such as Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata, a 6-foot-2 Australian who was considered too tall for rugby league.
“Football changed my life and opening an NFL academy in Australia will undoubtedly help many more young people change their lives,” Mailata said in the league’s announcement.
The academy will be based at AB Paterson College on the Gold Coast and plans include building a high-performance facility on the college site – due for completion in 2026 – which will also be available for community use.
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Mailata, who completed the league’s International Player Pathway program, will be on the Gold Coast to announce the Eagles’ first-round draft pick.
“The Asia-Pacific region is rich in sporting talent and I look forward to watching the next generation of football players find their own path to the NFL in the coming years,” he said.
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The move marks another step in the league’s global expansion, as NFL owners voted in December to authorize the league to play eight international games each season.
The Green Bay Packers will play the Eagles when the NFL plays its first regular-season game in Brazil in September. The NFL will also play three games in London in 2024, including one in Germany, while Spain will host its first game in 2025 at Real Madrid’s newly renovated Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Rugby and Australian Rules are potentially good sources of talent such as Welsh rugby union star Louis Rees-Zammit, who has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the new season.
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The new academy’s first recruitment camp is scheduled for June 29 at AB Paterson College on the Gold Coast. A second will take place on July 6th in Sydney, followed by a camp on August 24th in Auckland, New Zealand.
“The NFL Academy program is a significant league initiative that advances football development efforts worldwide and successfully transforms the lives of young people around the world,” said Brett Gosper, NFL head of Europe and Asia Pacific.
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“We look forward to bringing the program to the Gold Coast in Australia and continuing to build authentic player pathways for international talent, giving more young people from across the Asia Pacific region the opportunity to play the game in the coming years. “
Watch all three days of the 2024 NFL Draft live on Sky Sports Action from April 25-27, starting with round one from 1am in the early hours of Friday morning.