Hayden Smith in action for the New York Jets. Picture: Getty Images Source: Jim McIsaac / News Corp Australia
THE Queensland Reds are considering making a play for former New York Jets tight end Hayden Smith as they look to rebuild after a demoralising Super Rugby season.
Australian-born Smith, 29, who made an amazing transition from Sydney's Blue Mountains to US college basketball, then on to international rugby and the NFL, is playing for UK rugby heavyweights Saracens.
A 201cm, 116kg lock who played for the US Eagles against the Wallabies at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Smith played seven games for the Jets last year before being cut in the final round of squad selection for the upcoming season.
He first came to the attention of Reds coach Richard Graham when he first signed with Saracens in 2008.
Graham, an assistant coach with the London club, was impressed by Smith's work ethic and athleticism. He is looking into the possibility of bringing him to Ballymore.
"The Queensland Reds are currently in the market for a big, athletic forward who carries strongly at the line,'' Graham said. "Hayden is one of the players we will be considering when we make that decision over the next few months.
"I spent a season with Hayden at Saracens when he first transitioned to rugby.
"The level of professionalism he conducted himself with was matched by his strong desire to succeed.
Hayden Smith wins a lineout for Saracens. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
"I am not surprised by what he has achieved in rugby, nor that he managed to beat thousands of other seasoned NFL players to secure a contract with the New York Jets.''
Should the Reds be able to lure Smith away from Saracens he would be their designated "marquee player" due to his 19 caps for the US.
It would be shrewd manoeuvring, because the Reds have been able to gain a dispensation so lock Ed O'Donoghue can play as a local again next year rather than be classified as an import for three Ireland A games in 2009.
That he has managed to reach such heights in rugby despite having never played the game before the age of 23 is testament to his outstanding athletic ability.
Born and raised in Penrith, he was expected to sign a contract with basketball's Sydney Kings before the club struck financial difficulties.
Instead he took up a college scholarship in Denver, Colorado, and in 2007 began playing rugby for a local team.
Within a year he was playing Test rugby for the US and was offered an academy spot with Saracens in London.
Before the season was out, he was in the first-grade squad. After 43 games, Smith decided to try out for the NFL.
Signed by the Jets in December 2012, he became only the second Australian to play in the NFL in a position other than punter. Cut by the Jets, Smith accepted an offer to return to Saracens.
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