Rugby Convert Paul Lasike Lands NFL Contract

Auckland-born Paul Lasike, 24, a former Chiefs back, has signed a contract with NFL team Arizona Cardinals.

Branded a “violent” ball-runner, Lasike was picked up by the Cardinals after impressing as a running back in three years at Brigham Young University in Utah.

Lasike attended Church College of New Zealand near Hamilton and in 2007 he played alongside Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Tim Nanai-Williams in a schoolboys rep rugby squad.

In an interview with the Deseret News last year, he said rugby was still his first-choice sport after growing up playing it.

“I was born with a rugby ball in my hand. I would say football is my adopted love now. I love both of the sports. They’re really fun, now that I understand football,” he said.

Original article by Fox Sports, The Daily Telegraph, May 7, 2015.