From the mud, sweat and 涙／ほころびs of the rugby field to the glitz and glamour of the NFL: As 'Behemoth from Basingstoke' is 草案d by Buffalo 法案s, how host of other British players have decided to 交換（する） their sport for American football fame

• e-mail

The chance to earn millions a year, wider ニュース報道 and 冒険的な stardom are just some of the 推論する／理由s why British rugby league 星／主役にするs are hanging up their boots and 貿易（する）ing it for a life in the NFL.?

On Saturday it was 発表するd Travis Clayton - who has never played a 競争の激しい game of American football - had been snapped up by the Buffalo 法案s in the seventh 一連の会議、交渉／完成する of the NFL 草案 as an 不快な／攻撃 lineman.

It means Clayton, who last played rugby for eighth-tier Basingstoke RFC last year, will be the 最新の in a string of rugby league players to 長，率いる across the 大西洋 to break into the American football league.?

Over the last seven years, seven former British rugby players have been 選ぶd up from the NFL's International Player Pathway, after 存在 みなすd talented young players able to make it on the football field.

Clayton's move comes after Welsh 星／主役にする Louis Rees-Zammit 発表するd he would be joining the Kanas City 長，指導者s と一緒に Taylor Swift's boyfriend Travis Kelce, while Northampton Saints player Harry Mallinder also made the move earlier this year.

Yet while some have 伸び（る）d success on 契約s starting at?$884,000, others such as Christian Wade have returned to rugby に引き続いて a 'lonely' stint across the pond.

Some of the talented 星／主役にするs have even left the 冒険的な world all together, such as 6ft9in Christian Scotland-Williamson who 貿易（する）d in his 運動競技の career to become a barrister.?

Foreign players in the NFL are few and far between, with success stories even rarer. But as Clayton?乗る，着手するs on his 旅行 with the Buffalo 法案s, MailOnline takes a look 支援する at the other players who have tried to break into the sport.

Yesterday it was 発表するd Travis Clayton - who has never played a 競争の激しい game of American football - had been snapped up by the Buffalo 法案s

It comes after Welsh rugby 星／主役にする Louis Rees-Zammitt 調印するd with the Kansas City 長，指導者s?

Christian Scotland-Williamson was also selected to join the NFL but later 貿易（する）d in his 運動競技の career to become a barrister

Travis Clayton?

Travis Clayton is 始める，決める for 冒険的な stardom after he was 選ぶd out of hundreds from the NFL's International Player Pathway.

Born in Basingstoke and had his first 職業 working at Sainsburys, more recently working 審査 雇用 backgrounds.?

Yet the 6ft7in 競技者 could soon be 収入 tens of millions as he follows in the footsteps of former rugby 星／主役にするs cherry 選ぶd for the game.

'Buffalo （機の）カム to me. Buffalo 手配中の，お尋ね者 me. I'm just ready to work,' he told the （人が）群がる on Saturday.?'I don't think it's really going to kick in yet until I 現実に get to Buffalo. But at the moment, it's a world of emotions going on 権利 now. It's crazy.'

His mother Nicky Clayton yesterday 地位，任命するd a picture with her son at an NFL event thanking 'the people of Basingstoke' for all the support they have given him.

She 追加するd: 'We are over the moon to 発表する that Travis Clayton has just been 草案d into the NFL Buffalo 法案s. He is so special. We couldn't be prouder and love you so much.'?

The 23-year-old's 運動競技の success will likely not come as a surprise to his loved ones who saw his 約束ing 冒険的な career blossom over the years.

Travis Clayton is 始める，決める for 冒険的な stardom after he was 選ぶd out of hundreds from the NFL's International Player Pathway (pictured during the course)

Clayton 反応するs after 存在 選ぶd by the Buffalo 法案s with the 221st 全体にわたる 選ぶ in the seventh 一連の会議、交渉／完成する during the third day of the NFL football 草案

As a child?Clayton 報道によれば played for Fulham's football 学院, also trying out for Reading, Southampton and Chelsea

Clayton's mother?Nicky Clayton yesterday 地位，任命するd a picture with her son at an NFL event thanking 'the people of Basingstoke' for all the support they have given him

When he was young Clayton 報道によれば played for Fulham's football 学院, also trying out for Reading, Southampton and Chelsea. Deciding football was not やめる the 権利 choice, he also tried out ボクシング and 列／漕ぐ／騒動ing before moving to rugby.

Now 重さを計るing 21.5 石／投石する, Clayton 完全にするd the NFL's 40 metre dash in 4.79 seconds - the fastest time 記録，記録的な／記録する ed by 法案s scouts for an 不快な／攻撃 lineman in the last １０年間.?

Louis Rees-Zammit

Clayton's 打開 follows in the footsteps of 23-year-old Welsh rugby 星／主役にする Louis Rees-Zammit.

In March, on the same day that むちの跡s 確認するd its squad for the 2024 Six Nations, the young 星／主役にする 発表するd he would be 調印 a $884,000 契約 with the Kansas City 長，指導者s - the same team as Taylor Swift's boyfriend Travis Kelce.

The exact 詳細（に述べる）s of his 契約 are unknown but it is believed that it is a three-year 契約.

The young players move to the 明言する／公表するs served as a blow to Welsh Rugby after he took part in winning Six Nations 選手権 in 2021, 上陸 him a place on the British and Irish Lions squad.?

Clayton's 打開 follows in the footsteps of 23-year-old Welsh rugby 星／主役にする Louis Rees-Zammit

In March, on the same day that むちの跡s 確認するd its squad for the 2024 Six Nations, the young 星／主役にする 発表するd he would be 調印 a $884,000 契約 with the Kansas City 長，指導者s

Former rugby 星／主役にする Louis Rees-Zammit 調印するd with 最高の Bowl 勝利者s Kansas City 長，指導者s

It comes after Welsh rugby 星／主役にする Louis Rees-Zammitt 調印するd with the Kansas City 長，指導者s?

Rees-Zammit will join the 長，指導者s on a training 契約, with the NFL 現在／一般に in the off-season

The young players move to the 明言する／公表するs served as a blow to Welsh Rugby after he took part in winning Six Nations 選手権 in 2021

The move shocked the rugby union world when he やめる the sport which brought him 32 むちの跡s caps.??

Yet it had been a life-long dream for the Penarth-born 競技者 who had watched?his father play American football which '工場／植物d the seeds' for his new-設立する career.

Rees-Zammit joined the same international programme as Clayton and has since been glued to the 審査する learning the new 支配するs of the game.

'It's be en my dream to continue [my father's] 遺産／遺物, and 奮起させる other 競技者s 支援する home to be 確信して enough to make this change if they have a 願望（する） to try,' he told The Times.?

'My father told me not to have any 悔いるs. And I knew I would 悔いる it for the 残り／休憩（する） of my life if I never gave American football a real go.'?

Harry Mallinder

Another British player to 長，率いる to the NFL through the international pathway is 27-year-old Harry Mallinder.

The former Northampton Saints player, who was part of the team from 2013 to 2021, 発表するd in January he would also be turning his attention to the NFL.?

During his rugby-career, Mallinder was the captain and arguably the best player in England's U20 World Cup 勝利，勝つ in 2016, and is 的ing a career as a punter in the 明言する／公表するs.?

Though he was never capped at 上級の level by his country, Mallinder was called up to Eddie Jones' squad to 直面する Argentina in 2017, and many had high hopes for his 未来 with the wing versatile and talented.

Another British player to 長，率いる to the NFL through the international pathway is 27-year-old Harry Mallinder

The former Northampton Saints player, who was part of the team from 2013 to 2021, 発表するd in January he would also be turning his attention to the NFL

Mallinder said that America 申し込む／申し出d a 'fantastic 適切な時期 and a fresh start'?

Things didn't やめる materialise how he had hoped, and a 膝 傷害 in 2018 立ち往生させるd his career, and an 不成功の （一定の）期間 in Japan with Ricoh 黒人／ボイコット 押し通すs left him with no （疑いを）晴らす direction regarding what was next.

Mallinder said that America 申し込む／申し出d a 'fantastic 適切な時期 and a fresh start' in January.

'I think it is something I've always been fascinated by,' he told the Indepdent. '明白に it was やめる a long 発射 and there was no real 適切な時期 there for a long time, but 審理，公聴会 about this, I thought why not give it a go.

'I'm not just here to （不足などを）補う the numbers. While I want to enjoy every moment of this experience, I'm also here to make it happen. I want to make this my thing.'

Christian Wade

Like Clayton, Christian Wade left his rugby league position to also join Buffalo 法案s in 2019.

He 溝へはまらせる／不時着するd his 役割 as a winger for the 首相の職 team Wasps, after 得点する／非難する／２０ing 82 tries in 165 外見s between 2011 and 2018, before joining the NFL team.

Growing up in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, Wade's first 職業 at age 15 was at a Kumon club where he taught maths and English twice a week for £40. It is the only 職業 Wade had other than professional sport.

As soon as he left school, he joined the London Wasps 存在 paid around £17,000 before jumping to £250,000 加える before he left for NFL.

During his rugby career he touched with England to South Africa in 2012, Argentina in 2013 同様に as Australia.??

Christian Wade left his rugby league position to also join Buffalo 法案s in 2019. Pictured in Buffalo??

にもかかわらず his ability to 得点する／非難する／２０ tries, Wade only won one cap for England before quitting rugby

Wade has 明言する／公表するd his 願望（する） to remain with the 法案s but has growing 利益／興味s outside NFL

Growing up in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, Wade's first 職業 at age 15 was at a Kumon club where he taught maths and English twice a week for £40

Wade is now 支援する playing rugby union with French club Racing 92, 追加するing that he was 'lonely' while in America

When questioned at the time why he made the switch to NFL Wade told the Telegraph he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to '実験（する）' himself 'against the very best 競技者s in the world'.

He said that while money was a 'useful 道具 （電話線からの）盗聴 into [his] true 可能性のある was the 優先. Wade said his belief at the time was 'money will follow later'.

In 2022, he said he had no 悔いるs on giving up his rugby career.?'I've had 申し込む／申し出s all the time since I've been over here. But rugby is not really on the cards for me,' he said.

Yet for Wade, life in the NFL was not all it was 割れ目d up to be and he is now 支援する playing rugby union with French club Racing 92, 追加するing that he was 'lonely' while in America.

Speaking after Rees-Zammit 発表するd his career change, Wade, 32 said:?'It is going to get real, real 急速な／放蕩な. I know how lonely it is going to get so I wish him the best of luck.

'We 現実に caught up over Instagram and I told him if he needs any advice, then 攻撃する，衝突する me up.'

'I think Louis has definitely got a big challenge ahead of him,' he 追加するd.?'With his 運動競技の ability and the accolades he already has got in rugby, I think he has got the 権利 mindset and 態度 to go and do 井戸／弁護士席.'

Christian Scotland-Williamson

Christian Scotland-Williamson left his rugby career after becoming 失望させるd by the 欠如（する） of 適切な時期s at Worcester 軍人s.

But a clip of the 6ft9in player 取り組むing a Wasps player went viral and 結局 （機の）カム to the attention of NFL Scouts. It led the Englishman to join the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018.

'Coach マイク Tomlin said to me: 'I don't care where you come from - if you can help us 勝利，勝つ, you'll play'. That wasn't something that I had never experienced in rugby,' Scotland-Williamson 解任するd earlier this year.

'But the whole first year was really 堅い. Getting cussed out every 選び出す／独身 day because you were making mistakes.?

Christian Scotland-Williamson left his rugby career after becoming 失望させるd by the 欠如（する） of 適切な時期s at Worcester 軍人s?

Waltham Forest born Scotland-Williamson returned to England and 試みる／企てるd to 再結合させる Harlequins, but failed to make an 外見. Pictured: With his 財政／金融?

The former 競技者, who already had an 経済的なs degree, dec ided to start a 法律 転換. He now 作品 as a barrister. Pictured: Scotland-Williamson as a child

A clip of the 6ft9in player 取り組むing a Wasps player went viral and 結局 （機の）カム to the attention of NFL Scouts. Pictured: Scotland-Williamson as a child

Waltham Forest born Scotland-Williamson returned to England and 試みる／企てるd to 再結合させる Harlequins, but failed to make an 外見

'You feel like you can't put one foot in 前線 the other and you are really having to put a 重要な 量 of work in just to change the mindset and to have people believe that you could 潜在的に do it. 最初 it was just like: 'Why have I come out here?'?

Yet?にもかかわらず building a strong 関係 with 長，率いる coach マイク Tomlin, 傷害 meant that he never made the active roster.?

He had torn his hamstring the Covid pandemic 攻撃する，衝突する その上の 鈍らせるing his prospects and 影響する／感情ing his mental health.

'I flew home from America in November 2020 and mentally was in a pretty bad way, 特に with how things ended and how much work I'd put in,' he told TalkSport last year.

'My dad was on a ventilator from Covid while I was out there and I was in constant 神経 苦痛, which is the worst 苦痛 I can 述べる.

'I had a 外科 out there that went wrong as the 外科 was done in the wrong place. I flew 支援する and couldn't walk 600m for almost a year and was 苦しむing from 不景気.'

Waltham Forest born Scotland-Williamson returned to England and 試みる／企てるd to 再結合させる Harlequins, but failed to make an 外見.?

The former 競技者, who already had an 経済的なs degree, decided to start a 法律 転換. He now 作品 as a barrister.

Alex Gray

Alex Gray, 32, was the 追跡する-blazer when it （機の）カム to British rugby 星／主役にするs jumping ship to play in the NFL.

As with Clayton, Gray had never played a game of American football in his life and the closest he ever （機の）カム to the football field was playing a ビデオ game with his brother.

Yet after taking part in the 10-week international programme in Florida in 2017, he 設立する himself 存在 flown out to 会合，会う his 未来 team, the Atlanta Falcons.?

'It's pretty funny how it all worked out,' Gray told CNN at the time. 'I remember talking to my スパイ／執行官 around Christmas time and telling him what I was going to do with rugby.?

Alex Gray, 32, was the 追跡する-blazer when it （機の）カム to British rugby 星／主役にするs jumping ship to play in the NFL

Gray (L) 改善するd immensely since switching and captained the Falcons in a pre-season game?

Gray believes teams will be 'licking their lips' at the prospect of working with the Wasps man

にもかかわらず the jump to the Atlanta Falcons, Gray (pictured in 2010) struggled to get into the main roster of the sport and two years later he looked to return to a rugby career in Bath

Leaving his rugby and American football career behind, Gray featured as Apollo on the reboot of the 90s tv show Gladiators

'And I said, tongue-in-cheek, 'if nothing else comes up, why don't we just go to the NFL and make a 負担 of money?'

'We had a laugh about that, but I think it must have been two weeks later where he says 'I've had some NFL UK scouts on the phone and they want to 会合，会う with you.'

'Before coming here I had played 絶対 no American football. The only thing I had ever done was thrown a ball about with my mates when I was younger.'

Ahead of his stardom in the NFL, Gray was a London Irish 支援する-rower. He was one of the first Brits to move to the game through the International Player Pathway and was the first rugby game.?

にもかかわらず the jump to the Atlanta Falcons, he struggled to get into the main roster of the sport and two years later he looked to return to a rugby career in Bath - yet it was 簡潔な／要約する with him only making six 外見s between 2020 and 2021.?

Leaving his rugby and American football career behind, Gray featured as Apollo on the reboot of the 90s tv show Gladiators.??