Eagles are giving a tryout to a Canadian rugby star

Quarterbacks, rookies, and selected veterans won’t be the only players reporting to the Eagles’ facility in Philadelphia on Sunday. Canadian rugby star Adam Zaruba is arriving to Philly for a tryout with the Eagles.

The 26-year-old Zaruba currently plays for the Canada Sevens. He’s hoping to be a tight end in the NFL. Standing at 6-5, 265 pounds, he certainly doesn’t lack size for the position.

What Zaruba does lack is extensive football experience. Read more about the Vancouver native in this article from The Province.

He played football in high school at Carson Graham and then was recruited to play at SFU but to put it in his words, “it didn’t work out.” He redshirted for a year for the Clan, didn’t play for his second, was ineligible for his third.

Eventually he found his way to rugby, was quickly spotted by the rugby sevens staff at Rugby Canada as a prospect and by 2014 was a full-time member of the national squad.

Fast-forward three years, and he’s made a name for himself on the international rugby stage. Now it’s time for a new big stage.

“It will be a really awesome thing for me as an athlete,” he said before flying out to Philadelphia on Friday.

I don’t know if Zaruba’s tryout will amount to much considering the Eagles already have a full 90-man roster. They’re also set at the tight end position with Zach Ertz, Brent Celek, and Trey Burton as locks to make the team.

But kicking the tires on Zaruba surely doesn’t hurt. Just check out this awesome one-handed catch he pulled off during a rugby match.

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(Hat tip to r/Eagles.)