Super Rugby
Brumbies confirm link with college football star
ESPN Staff
April 21, 2015
Chris Coyle (R) will link with the Brumbies in May © Getty Images
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The Brumbies have gone global in their search for talent with College Football star Chris Coyle set to join the franchise next month.

A Brumbies spokesperson confirmed the arrangement to ESPN on Tuesday, saying "he's just training at this stage. (He'll be) Coming over from our Arizona Academy." Originally reported in the Arizona Republic, Coyle - a college tight end - will travel to Canberra to train and "become a [professional] rugby player".

Forging his way through four seasons of college football at Arizona State where he played 40 games for the Sun Devils and placed third on ASU's all-time receptions list for tight ends (92), Coyle was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent last July.

But shortly after joining the side he suffered a shoulder injury and was cut by the NFL franchise before their first pre-season game against the Arizona Cardinals.

"I was really looking forward to coming back to the Valley and playing before the fans who saw me in college," Coyle told Arizona Republic. "But it didn't happen for me. When I got hurt, it kept me out about five days. But the NFL moves so fast, and that's enough time to fall far behind.

"I fell to the bottom of the totem pole. But I don't have any hard feelings against that organization. I had an opportunity and I felt like I did a good job with it. I have no regrets. It just wasn't meant to be."

However, a phone call from ASU's rugby coach Gary Lane presented the 24-year-old with a unique opportunity. Hearing of Coyle's injury, Lane offered the football star an opportunity to learn rugby and take advantage of ASU's connection with the Brumbies.

"He told me there was a team in Australia that was interested in training me to become a [professional] rugby player," Coyle said. "He explained the opportunities, that I could have a good future in rugby overseas. He said a lot of ex-football players could be doing it, but they don't take the risk and give it a shot. There are so many places you can end up, with a lot of great financial opportunities because the sport is so popular in other areas of the world."

Seizing the opportunity, Coyle re-enrolled at ASU and joined the rugby team and immediately fell in love with the game.

"There's such a connection between the two sports," Coyle said. "And at first, I just used my athleticism. I used the things I knew from football, my route running skills and my ball-carrying skills. But now, there's so many times when I'll use a technique from football for leverage in rugby, or something like that.

"The difference is, there's not a defined play like in football. It flows like soccer. It's a ton of fun, such an active game, and anybody can get the ball at any moment. And when I'm on defense, it takes me back to my high school days and I get to tackle again."

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