There are many players who have converted one football code to another or even changed from other sports at a professional or representational level. In some countries where the practice is common they are known simply as football code converts.
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Reasons why players change codes
Some reasons can be:
- Easily interchangeable skills or body types
- Professionalism or amateurism in the new sport
- Change of location
- Changing popularity of codes in their area
- Career longevity
- Higher salaries
- Favourite sport or club
- Suitability for 'specialist' positions
- Disgruntled with a sport, club or league
- Opportunity to play International Football ("Test" matches)
- Perceived quality of domestic competition or sub-internationl representative football (such as Super 14 Rugby, Heineken Cup Rugby or State of Origin Rugby League)
Main football codes and key attributes
- American football (called "Gridiron" outside North America) - a professional code with focus on contact, physical strength, size and tackling. Many specialist positions focussing on skill. Some require kicking and catching skills with oval ball. Few opportunities for code conversion.
- Australian rules football - a professional code with a wide range of both kicking and hand skills used in most other football codes. Focus on height or versatility and stamina. Oval ball suits conversion to other oval ball sports, and International Rules participation provides round ball experience. Medium to high contact sport makes conversion to other contact codes easier, but body shape may be negative factor in conversion to rugby football and American football. Few specialist positions.
- Canadian football - generally similar to American football in rules (although differences make the Canadian game somewhat more focussed on speed), required skills, and constraints on code conversion.
- Football (soccer) - a professional code with focus on skill and evasion, in particular of foot without use of hands (few exceptions). Round ball makes difficult to convert to oval ball sports. Difficult to convert to codes requiring hand skills, especially for outfield players (i.e., not goalkeepers). Obvious opportunities for transference of place-kicking skills to other codes, most notably American or Canadian. Few specialist positions.
- Gaelic football - an amateur code with wide range of skills used on other football codes. Focus on fast running, hand and foot skills. Low level contact and International Rules participation means possible to convert to full contact sports.
- Rugby league - a professional code with focus on using hands and tackling. Focus on bulk and power. Relatively easy conversion to rugby union for backs; more difficult for forwards. High contact sport makes conversion to other contact codes easier. Some specialist positions.
- Rugby union - a professional code with focus on using hands and tackling with some kicking, although kicking is a major focus of the fly half position. Focus on size, aggression and strength. Relatively easy conversion to rugby league, mainly for backs, and American or Canadian football for almost all union positions. High contact sport makes conversion to other contact codes easier. Some specialist positions.
From Association Football
Association football to American football
Numerous American football placekickers grew up playing football (soccer); however, very few have competed at a very high level in their original code. A large number of the first "soccer-style" placekickers of the 1960s and early 1970s were Europeans and Latin Americans who changed codes in adulthood. Eventually, kickers who changed codes in adulthood were largely, though not completely, displaced by players who were either born and raised in the U.S. or immigrated to the U.S. at a relatively early age, thus receiving more exposure to American football than most of the first soccer-style placekickers.
| Name | Country | Top Football (Soccer) Level | Top American football Level | Top representation level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clive Allen | England | Tottenham Hotspur F.C. | London Monarchs | England national football team |
| Jesús Angoy | Spain | FC Barcelona | Barcelona Dragons | N/A |
| Manfred Burgsmüller | Germany | Werder Bremen | Rhein Fire | Germany national football team |
| Toni Fritsch | Austria | Rapid Vienna | Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints |
Austria national football team (soccer) Pro Bowl (American football) |
Association football to Australian rules football
Although playing with different shaped ball and using the hands, there have been many Aussie Rules players who have played soccer at junior level. AFL players to have played soccer at junior level include Andrew McLeod, Clive Waterhouse, Adam Goodes, Adem Yze and Eddie Betts. Englishman Brad Moran converted in 2003 and Brad Green was trialled with Manchester United before switching codes.
Association football to Rugby union
- Luke McAlister, a New Zealand international rugby union footballer, grew up in the north-west of England and had a trial with Manchester United before converting to rugby union at an early age.
- Loreto Cucchiarelli former player Coach of Italian team of RU, in very young age, play football for S.S.Lazio
- Conrad Jantjes played at young national team of South Africa in Soccer, Rugby Union and Cricket
From Australian Rules Football
Australian rules football to American football
The punting specialist position requires similar skills to those found in Australian football players. Salaries are up to 5 times higher and the position lends itself to longevity. Australian football players generally retire at around 30, whereas American football punters can play well into their 40s (in fact, one of the players listed below, Darren Bennett, played 11 seasons in the NFL after leaving behind an Australian rules career when he was nearing 30). Initially Australians sought out American football careers [2], although now NFL scouts are more often actively seeking punters from Australia [3]
| Name | Country | Top Aussie rules level | Top American football level | Top representation level | Playing Era |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pat O'Dea | Australia | VFA | College football | N/A | 1890s |
| Colin Ridgeway | Australia | VFL (reserves) | NFL | N/A | 1960s |
| Darren Bennett | Australia | AFL | NFL | N/A | 1987-2005 |
| Ben Graham | Australia | AFL | NFL | Australia (Inter-rules) | 1993 - |
| Nathan Chapman | Australia | AFL | NFL | N/A | 2004 - |
| Mat McBriar | Australia | High School | NFL | N/A | 2005 - |
| Saverio Rocca | Australia | AFL | NFL | N/A | 1991 - |
Australian rules football to Association football
The technique of kicking grubber goals and scissor kicking in Aussie Rules is similar to goal striking in soccer, and International Rules participation provides experience with the round ball and even goal keeping.
| Name | Country | Top Aussie rules level | Top Soccer level | Top representation level | Playing Era |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Bevilaqua | Australia | VFL | Victorian Premier League | N/A | 1950s |
| Angelo Lekkas | Australia | AFL with Hawthorn | Victorian Premier League with South Melbourne | Australia (Inter-rules) | 1993 - |
| Fred Agius | Australia | SANFL with Central Districts | National Soccer League with Adelaide United | Olyroos | 2000s - |
Australian rules football to rugby union
As in rugby league and Australian rules, early in the history of the two codes in Australia the two codes were interchangeable . Such is the divide today that comments from professional Australian rules players such as Jason Akermanis about switching codes are met with disbelief. Nevertheless, there are still some positions and roles that have commonalities (particularly those that involve kicking and catching such as the backs and second row in rugby union; half forwards and rucks in Australian Rules). [4] Also at amateur level, conversion is quite common, as in the case of many start-up Australian Rules clubs in countries such as France [5] and developing Aussie Rules countries such as New Zealand.
| Name | Country | Top Aussie rules Level | Top rugby union Level | Top representation level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Evans | New Zealand | NZ Under 21 | All Blacks | New Zealand (RU), New Zealand U21 (AR) |
Australian rules football to rugby league
Early in the history of the two codes in Australia, players would interchange the codes and even had discussions of merging them into a single game.[1] League great Dally Messenger is believed to have played Aussie Rules while in Melbourne, enabling him to excel in kicking. Rugby league has since evolved to specialise in physicality and body type making it more difficult for successful conversion between the two, although it does sometimes happen at junior level and in areas where both codes are played. League great Darren Lockyer played Aussie Rules at a junior level in Queensland[2], as did Marcus Bai in Papua New Guinea. Likewise other players who hail from towns such as Wagga Wagga and Darwin, areas providing quality access to both codes and could draw on a combination of skills (such as Laurie Daley). Players of both codes at Junior levels have included Peter Sterling (League) and Paul Kelly (AFL). Greg Brentnall played Australian Football in Riverina in the 1960s before turning down an offer to play in the VFL/AFL and switching to rugby league taking up a contract with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 1972. His ability to catch the highball made him a valuable fullback for many rugby league representative teams, and he represented Australia in rugby league.
| Name | Country | Top Aussie rules Level | Top rugby league Level | Top representation level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian Barich | Australia | AFL | ARL reserve grade | NSW, WA (AR) |
From Gaelic Football
Gaelic Football to Association football
| Name | Country | Top Gaelic football Level | Top soccer level | Top representation level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Moran | Ireland | All-Ireland Football Championship winner with Dublin GAA | FA First Division with Manchester United F.C. | Republic of Ireland national football team |
| Kevin Doyle | Ireland | Wexford County Minor Team | Premiership with Reading F.C. | Republic of Ireland national football team |
- Jack Kirwan (Dublin GAA) / St James Gate, Tottenham Hotspurs & Everton F.C.
- Val Harris (Dublin GAA) / Shelbourne & Everton FC
- Con Martin (Dublin GAA) / Leeds United, Aston Villa
Gaelic football to Australian rules football
- See also: International Rules football
- See also: Comparison of Australian rules football and Gaelic football
Like rugby union and league, the two codes share similarities, making switching between them a possibility. International Rules representation for players of both codes is common. The Gaelic Athletic Association is fully amateur, meaning that there is a financial lure for players to compete in elite Aussie Rules competitions in Australia. [6]
| Name | Country | Top Gaelic level | Top Aussie rules level | Top representation level | Playing Era |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Wight | Ireland | Gaelic Athletic Association | AFL | NA | 1985-95 |
| Paul Earley | Ireland | Gaelic Athletic Association | AFL | NA | 1985-87 |
| Dermott McNichol | Ireland | Gaelic Athletic Association | AFL | NA | 1985-97 |
| Brian Stynes | Ireland | Gaelic Athletic Association | AFL | NA | 1985-95 |
| Jim Stynes | Ireland | Gaelic Athletic Association | AFL (Brownlow Medallist) | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 1987-98 |
| Tadhg Kennelly | Ireland | Gaelic Athletic Association | AFL premiership player | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 2001- |
| Colm Begley | Ireland | Gaelic Athletic Association | AFL | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 2006- |
| Martin Clarke | Ireland | Gaelic Athletic Association | AFL | N/A | 2005- |
Gaelic football to Rugby Union
| Name | Country | Top Gaelic level | Top rugby union Level | Top representation level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Beggy | Ireland | Meath County Team | Leinster Rugby | ? |
| Mick Galwey | Ireland | Kerry County Team | Munster Rugby | Ireland rugby union team |
| Brian Rigney || Ireland || Offaly || Leinster Rugby || Ireland rugby union team |- |}
Gaelic football to Rugby league
| Name | Country | Top Gaelic level | Top rugby league Level | Top representation level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Carney | Ireland | Gaelic Athletic Association | Super League / NRL | Great Britain (RL) |
From Rugby Union
Rugby union to Association football
| Name | Country | Top rugby union Level | Top association football Level | Top representation level | Playing Era |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.W. Sutcliffe | England | Bradford/Heckmondwike | Bolton Wanderers/Manchester United | England (both) | 1880s/1910s |
Rugby league / rugby union
Two of the closest codes, they share some similar skills. Until 1995 union was "officially amateur" and union players were offered money to switch codes. That trend has since reversed. Conversion from code to another is more difficult for forwards rather than backs where the similarities are most adjacent. It is worth noting that several players, including Iestyn Harris and Mat Rogers, have converted between the two codes on more than one occasion.
- See Category:Dual code rugby internationals for a complete list of 43 Australians who have represented at international level in both rugby codes.
Rugby union to rugby league
| Name | Country | Top rugby union level | Top league level | Top representation level | Playing Era |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frano Botica | New Zealand | All Blacks | Super League (Europe) NRL | New Zealand (RU/RL) Croatia (RU) | 1980/90s |
| Michael Cleary | Australia | Wallabies | NSWRL | Australia (RU/RL) | 1960s |
| Ryan Cross | Australia | Super 14 | NRL | Australian Schoolboys (RU) | 2000s |
| Arthur Daniels | Wales | Club (Llanelli) | Rugby League Championship | Wales/Great Britain (RL) | 1940s/50s |
| Jonathan Davies | Wales | Welsh Premier Division | Super League (Europe) | Wales/Great Britain (RL) Wales (RU) | 1980s/90s |
| Marc Ellis | New Zealand | All Blacks | NRL | New Zealand (RU/RL) | 1990s |
| Rocky Elsom | Australia | Wallabies | Junior | Australia (RU) | 2000s |
| George Fairburn | Scotland | SRU national league/Kelso RFC | Rugby League Championship | Great Britain | 1970/80s |
| Russell Fairfax | Australia | Wallabies | NSWRL | Australia (RU) | 1970s |
| Ray French | England | England | Rugby League Championship | Great Britain | |
| John Gallagher | New Zealand | All Blacks | Super League (Europe) | New Zealand (RU) | 1980s |
| Scott Gibbs | Wales | Welsh Premier Division | Super League (Europe) | Wales/Great Britain (RL/RU) | 1990s |
| Scott Gourley | Australia | Wallabies | NSWRL | Australia (RU/RL) | 1980s |
| Daryl Halligan | New Zealand | NPC | NRL | New Zealand (RL) | 1990s |
| Sam Harris | Australia | Super rugby | NRL | Australian Schoolboys (RU) City v. Country (RL) | 2000s |
| Nigel Heslop | England | International | Rugby League Championship | England | 1960s |
| Craig Innes | New Zealand | All Blacks | NRL | New Zealand (RU/RL) | 1990s |
| Ben Kennedy | Australia | Australian U21 | NRL | Australia (RL) | 1990s/2000s |
| John Kirwan | New Zealand | All Blacks | NRL | New Zealand (RU) | 1980/90s |
| Tony Melrose | Australia | --- | NSWRL | Australia (RU) | 1980s |
| Dally Messenger | Australia | Wallabies | NSWRL | Australia (RL) | 1900s |
| Garrick Morgan | Australia | Wallabies | NRL | Australia (RU) | 2000s |
| Rex Mossop | Australia | Wallabies | NSWRL | Australia (RU/RL) | 1950s |
| Michael O'Connor | Australia | Wallabies | NSWRL | Australia (RU/RL) | 1980/90s |
| Brett Papworth | Australia | Wallabies | NSWRL | Australia (RU) | 1980s |
| Ray Price | Australia | Wallabies | NSWRL | Australia (RU/RL) | 1980s |
| Scott Quinnell | Wales | Wales | Super League (Europe) | Wales (RU/RL) | 1990s/2000s |
| Matthew Ridge | New Zealand | All Blacks | NRL | New Zealand (RU/RL) | 1980s/90s |
| Wendell Sailor | Australia | Wallabies | NRL | Australia (RU/RL) | |
| Ricky Stuart | Australia | Wallabies | NRL | Australia (RU & RL) | 1980s/1990s |
| George Smith | New Zealand | All Blacks | All Golds | New Zealand (RU/RL) | 1900s |
| Alan Tait | Scotland | Scotland/1997 Lions Tour | Rugby League Championship | Great Britain | 1980/90s |
| Brad Thorn | New Zealand | All Blacks | NRL | Australia (RL) New Zealand (RU) | 1990s/2000s |
| John Timu | New Zealand | All Blacks | NRL | New Zealand (RU/RL) | 1990s |
| Va'aiga "Inga" Tuigamala | New Zealand | All Blacks | Super League (Europe) | New Zealand (RU) Western Samoa (RL) | 1990s |
| Craig Wing | Australia | Australian Schoolboys | NRL | Australia (RL) Australian Schoolboys (RU) | 1990s/2000s |
| William Topou | Australia | Australian A U19 Schoolboys | NRL |
Rugby union to American football
Rugby union and American football share the same origins, but have evolved into very different games. Both are very physical and require similar body types.
| Name | Country | Top rugby union level | Top American football level | Top representation level | Playing Era |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colin Scotts | Australia | Australian schoolboys | NFL | Australia | 1980s |
| Gavin Hastings | Scotland | International | WLAF | Scotland/British Lions | 1990s |
| Gary Parker | Scotland | Club (Melrose RFC) | WLAF | N/A | 1980s/90s |
| Gary Anderson | South Africa | Brettonwood High School, Durban, South Africa | NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans | N/A | 1982-2004 |
| Richard Tardits | France, later USA |
Biarritz Olympique, USA | NFL, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots | USA Rugby | 1980s/90s |
| David Dixon | New Zealand | New Zealand under-19 | NFL, Minnesota Vikings | New Zealand | 1994-2004 |
| Haloti Ngata | United States | Highland High School, Salt Lake City, Utah | NFL, Baltimore Ravens | N/A | 2006-present |
| Stewart Bradley | United States | Highland High School, Salt Lake City, Utah | NFL, Philadelphia Eagles | N/A | 2007-present |
Rugby union to Australian rules football
In recent years, several schoolboy rugby union players have made a transition to Australian Rules, including Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Adam Campbell (who represented New Zealand at U15 level), Daniel Merrett, Brad Moran and Tom Williams who represented Queensland at U16 level.
From Rugby League
Rugby league to rugby union
Rugby league to Australian rules football
In recent years, several schoolboy rugby league players have made a transition to Australian Rules, including Paul Kelly, Kieren Jack, Matthew Whelan and Sam Gilbert whilst Wayne Carey from Wagga Wagga was exposed to rugby league at a young age.
Converts to football codes to and from other sports
Players who competed in both sports in college: Tony Gonzalez, Julius Peppers. This group of players, while small, is substantially larger than the first:
- Setanta Ó hAilpín (Hurling / Aussie Rules)
- Shane Long (Hurling, Soccer)
- Keith Wood (Hurling, Rugby Union)
- Niall Quinn (Hurling / Soccer)
- Justin Charles (Baseball/Aussie Rules/Baseball)
- Dean Brogan (Basketball / Aussie Rules)
- Mark Lisle (Bastketball / Aussie Rules)
- Jeff Wilson (Rugby Union / Cricket)
Hurling and Gaelic Football Dual Players
Because Hurling and Gaelic Football are sister sports in Ireland the number of 'dual players' is almost endless. Previously it was common for players to play both sports simulaneously at the top level. Former Irish Taoiseach Jack Lynch won successive All-Irelands in Gaelic football (one) and Hurling (five) in the 1940s. Only one person - Teddy McCarthy - won an All-Ireland in Hurling and Gaelic Football in the same year - 1990 with Cork. However in recent times this has become almost impossible as both games became ever more professional. The most recent player at the very top level is Sean Og Ó hAilpín who played in two All-Irelands for Cork in 2000. He has since only played hurling. As mentioned above his brother has converted to Australian Rules Football.
See also
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ The Midas Touch by Paul Malone from couriermail.com.au
