Former Rugby Star Harry Mallinder Enter NFL Pathway

Former Northampton Saints player Harry Mallinder has taken a leap into the pursuit of an NFL career by joining the international player pathway (IPP), a move reminiscent of Louis Rees-Zammit’s recent decision. Mallinder, aged 27, had a notable stint with Northampton from 2013 to 2021 before venturing to Japan, where he played for the Black Rams Tokyo.

Known for his versatility in positions such as fly-half, inside centre, and fullback, Mallinder has a rugby history that includes representing England in age-grade competitions. In 2017, he even toured with the national side in Argentina. However, his focus is now shifting towards the NFL, with Mallinder entering the pathway as a kicker and punter. This move aligns with a broader trend in rugby players exploring opportunities in American football.

Interestingly, Mallinder’s decision follows closely on the heels of Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit’s surprising announcement that he was leaving rugby to embark on the NFL pathway. Rees-Zammit, a standout player at 22 who featured in the recent Rugby World Cup for Wales, revealed his decision just an hour before he was expected to be named in Wales’ Six Nations squad.

A notable accomplishment in Mallinder’s rugby career was his captaincy of England’s under-20s to World Cup glory in 2016. This background adds an intriguing dimension to his transition to the world of American football.

Both Mallinder and Rees-Zammit are part of a growing trend in which rugby athletes try their luck in the NFL. Preceding them, players like Christian Wade, Alex Gray, and Christian Scotland-Williamson have also ventured into this crossover in previous years.

The current IPP cohort comprises 11 athletes and five specialists from eight different nations, bringing diverse sporting backgrounds into the mix. These individuals hail from sports such as rugby, basketball, athletics, Gaelic football, and Australian rules football. Their common goal is to follow in the footsteps of IPP alumni like Jordan Mailata, Jakob Johnson, Efe Obada, Sammis Reyes, and David Bada, who have successfully secured spots on active rosters with teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Las Vegas Raiders, and Washington Commanders.

Osi Umenyiora, leading the NFL’s Africa program, expressed optimism about the potential impact of the international football development programs. He emphasized the life-changing opportunities these programs offer talented athletes globally and predicted a continuing influence on the NFL in the upcoming seasons. As Mallinder and Rees-Zammit embark on this unique journey, their stories and contributions to the world of football are poised to capture attention and shape the evolving landscape of cross-sport transitions.