TWO-TIME SUPER Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora has named three Irish players in his fantasy NFL team based on participants in this year’s Rugby World Cup.
Umenyiora, a former defensive end with the New York Giants, is also the NFL’s London ambassador and says that scouts have identified two players who they will approach about making the switch to American football once the World Cup is over.
He told The Mirror he couldn’t identify the players by name but “the guys in question are genuine candidates. Their particular skill sets transfer over. We think they will be very good.
“There are other Jarryd Haynes out there. Jarryd has done very well, but the players we are talking about are going to be better than him. No question about it.”
Umenyiora named Cian Healy, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip in his fantasy team of players who could take up American football.
Offence
Wide receiver: Mike Brown (Eng), Julian Savea (NZ)
Tight end: George North (Wal)
Centre: Dane Coles (NZ)
Guard: Cian Healy (Ire) Gethin Jenkins (Wal)
Offensive tackle: Sean O’Brien (Ire) Sam Warburton (Wal)
Quarterback: Dan Biggar (Wal)
Running back: Greg Laidlaw (Sco), Aaron Smith (NZ)
Kicker: Owen Farrell (Eng)
Defence
Defensive end: Bismarck du Plessis (SA), Ross Ford (Sco)
Defensive tackle: Marcos Ayerza (Arg), Dan Cole (Eng)
Cornerback: Jonathan Joseph (Eng), Anthony Watson (Eng)
Outside linebacker: Dan Lydiate (Wal), James Haskell (Eng)
Middle linebacker: Jamie Heaslip (Ire)
Safety: Jerome Kaino (NZ), David Pocock (Aus)
