Rugby World Cup
RWC to NFL? Eight World Cup stars who could swap tries for touchdowns
ESPN Staff
September 22, 2015
New Zealand's Julian Savea
New Zealand's Julian Savea© Phil Walter/Getty Images

Julian Savea

Age: 25

Nationality: New Zealand

Caps: 36

Club side: Hurricanes (New Zealand)

Position: Wing

Height: 6ft 4in

Weight: 227lb

Potential NFL role: Running Back

A former Sevens and Under-20 All Black, Savea made a major impact on Test debut for New Zealand by running three tries past Ireland at Eden Park in Auckland. Blessed with blistering pace and a great step, the Wellington-born winger drew comparisons with All Black great Jonah Lomu during the early stages of his career and arrived at the World Cup with 30 international tries to his name.

Fiji's Leone Nakarawa
Fiji's Leone Nakarawa© Jan Hendrik Kruger/Getty Images

Leone Nakarawa

Age: 27

Nationality: Fiji

Caps: 32

Club side: Glasgow Warriors (Scotland)

Position: Lock

Height: 6ft 6in

Weight: 257lb

Potential NFL role: Defensive End

Originally a sevens player, Nakarawa quit the military to focus on his rugby career in Scotland and is now playing his second World Cup in England. "Leone has worked really hard in training to adapt to the 15-a-side game," enthused Warriors coach Gregor Townsend after the hulking Fijian resigned with the club. "He has a wide variety of skills, which gives us something different, and he's versatile, being able to play in the second-row and back-row."

New Zealand's Waisake Naholo
New Zealand's Waisake Naholo© Martin Hunter/Getty Images

Waisake Naholo

Age: 24

Nationality: New Zealand

Caps: 1

Club side: Highlanders (New Zealand)

Position: Wing

Height: 6ft 1in

Weight: 224lb

Potential NFL role: Running Back

Highlanders winger Naholo remains on target to return for New Zealand's third pool game against Georgia after suffering a fractured leg on his Test debut against Argentina in July. the Fijian-born flyer is considered an ace up the All Blacks' sleeve during this World Cup given his lack of exposure at international level, despite his competition-high 13 tries during the Super Rugby season.

Fiji's Nemani Nadolo
Fiji's Nemani Nadolo© Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Nemani Nadolo

Age: 27

Nationality: Fiji

Caps: 21

Club sides: Crusaders (New Zealand), NEC Green Rockets (Japan)

Position: Wing

Height: 6ft 4in

Weight: 275lb

Potential NFL role: Running Back

Formerly known as Ratu Nasiganiyavi, Nadolo is another giant winger blessed with blistering pace who has, unsurprisingly, drawn comparisons with Jonah Lomu. The standout performer in Fiji's opening performance against England, he has 16 tries for his country and playing experience in Australia, France and England -- albeit a brief, ill-fated four-game spell in with Exeter Chiefs in 2011.

New Zealand's Kieran Read
New Zealand's Kieran Read© Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Kieran Read

Age: 29

Nationality: New Zealand

Caps: 78

Club side: Crusaders (New Zealand)

Position: No. 8

Height: 6ft 4in

Weight: 242lb

Potential NFL role: Defensive End

Read has made the All Blacks' No. 8 shirt his own since emerging onto the international stage in 2008 and is widely considered one of the best forwards in the game. Within two years he was named New Zealand player of the year after scoring the crucial late try against Australia that secured a 2010 Tri-Nations clean sweep, returning from injury in 2011 to lead a Crusaders side forced to play every match away from home in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake to the Super Rugby final before playing a key role as the All Blacks won their second World Cup title.

Tonga's Sitiveni Mafi
Tonga's Sitiveni Mafi© David Jones/Getty Images

Sitiveni Mafi

Age: 25

Nationality: Tonga

Caps: 15

Club side: Western Force (Australia)

Position: Lock/Flanker

Height: 6ft 6in

Weight: 246lb

Potential NFL role: Tight End

Grandson of Sione Mafi, who captained Tonga to the ground-breaking victory over Australia in Brisbane in 1973, 'Steve' has followed in the family footsteps as a rampaging lock with a hard-earned reputation as a big-game player. Mafi developed into a devastating ball runner during a four-year spell with Leicester Tigers, where he was a fan favourite for his man-of-the-match honours in their 2012 LV= Cup final win, try in the 2012 Aviva Premiership final, and crucial role in their 2013 Aviva Premiership victory.

Tonga's Telusa Veainu
Tonga's Telusa Veainu© Harry Engels/Getty Images

Telusa Veainu

Age: 24

Nationality: Tonga

Caps: 5

Club side: Melbourne Rebels (Australia)

Position: Wing

Height: 5ft 11in

Weight: 257lb

Potential NFL role: Running Back

Just two months into his Test career since opting to play for Tonga, the New Zealand-raised wing has already notched two tries in five matches. The speedster put himself on the map in 2013 by scoring a memorable length-of-the-field try for the Crusaders against former side Highlanders in Dunedin, and earned his World Cup call-up with an impressive display in the Pacific Nations Cup shortly before the team's departure for England.

Namibia's Tjiuee Uanivi
Namibia's Tjiuee Uanivi© DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP/Getty Images

Tjiuee Uanivi

Age: 24

Nationality: Namibia

Caps: 11

Club side: Brive (France)

Position: Lock/Flanker

Height: 6ft 7in

Weight: 240lb

Potential NFL role: Defensive End

A late starter by modern rugby standards, Uanivi turned his back on football to play rugby after leaving high school, and was quickly recruited by Brive's academy, making his debut for the first XV against Toulon in 2013. His international career was stalled by a shoulder injury and his contract obligations with the Top 14 side, but he has quickly become integral to the Namibian squad - the towering 24-year-old is the only out-and-out lock in the World Cup side.

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