Monaghan’s Beggan among Irish trio on the brink of NFL deal
MONAGHAN All-Star Rory Beggan and young Down custodian Charlie Smyth have moved a step closer to securing a lucrative NFL contracts with news that they have signed to a top US sports agency.
The two Gaelic football goalkeepers and former Connacht rugby player Darragh Leader have all signed with Pro Star Sports, a sign that they could soon be taken on by an NFL team.
Paul Sheehy, of the agency, confirmed on social media that they have begun representing the Irish trio.
However, there was no mention of Wicklow goalkeeper Mark Jackson, who also participated in the recent NFL combine. Pro Star Sports has represented numerous NFL players over the past 35 years, including three-time Super Bowl-winning place-kicker Harrison Butker.
From next season, each of the 32
NFL sides are required to have one international player on their books, which has increased the Irish players’ chances of securing a contract.
Elsewhere, English rugby club Gloucester have signed former Wasps and England winger Christian Wade — who quit rugby in 2018 to join the NFL’s International Player Pathway — just weeks after losing ex-Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit to the same programme.
The 32-year-old will join from French club Racing 92 ahead of the 2024/25 season and will help fill the void left by Rees-Zammit’s shock move to the US.
Wade was drafted to the Buffalo Bills in 2019 but never played a competitive NFL match and returned to rugby in 2022.
‘I’m excited to be returning to the Premiership next season and for a great club like Gloucester,’ Wade said. ‘After speaking with George (Skivington), I believe in his vision and ambition for the team and I can’t wait to play my part in that.’