NFL contracts anticipated for 'a couple of' the Irish kickers, says Tadhg Leader

A couple of the Irish kickers who exhibited their skills in Indianapolis on Sunday have put themselves in line for contract offers from NFL teams, according to ex-Connacht rugby player Tadhg Leader, founder of the Leader Kicking initiative.

GAA goalkeeping trio Rory Beggan (Monaghan), Mark Jackson (Wicklow) and Charlie Smyth (Down) competed in the NFL international combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium as part of the international player pathway (IPP), taking 16 kicks each in front of watching NFL scouts, while Tadhg's brother Darragh, a fellow former Connacht player, was due to participate in punting drills on Monday but has delayed his trials until later in the month due to a slight niggle.

The kickers, who were scattered amongst a range of high-prospect college kickers looking to be included in April's NFL draft, can be approached any time by clubs as they are free agents, who as IPP players would also not take up a regular roster spot. Sunday night's showing – although not perfect – didn't hurt their chances.

Galway native Tadhg Leader, who launched Leader Kicking in 2022 with the aim of bringing through and developing a wave of Irish kicking talent that could potentially make it in American football, told RTÉ Sport's Darren Frehill that he is confident offers will be winging their way towards some members of the Irish quartet.

"This is an event that every single kicker and punter in America wanted to be at. Only seven and five (of each position) got invited and we were part of that group, so the boys held their own which was what I expected but I also hadn't done this before in that competitive environment," he said.

"So it was a huge amount of nerves. We actually got off to shaky enough start. We missed a kick, three lads,