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'A lifelong dream': Kiwi sprint prodigy makes stunning announcement
New Zealand speedster Edward Osei-Nketia once told RugbyPass that “rugby was in my blood.” But earlier today, the 21-year-old turned his back on that dream by making a major announcement.
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Osei-Nketia, who broke his father’s 100m national record in July, was linked with a sensational move to decorated Super Rugby franchise the Crusaders last year.
But CEO Colin Mansbridge quickly put those rumours to bed, saying “he’d have to learn the game” before being offered a contract.
After controversially missing out on the Tokyo Olympics and Birmingham Commonwealth Games, the sprint prodigy is set to embark on an exciting new challenge.
The 21-year-old has committed to the University of Hawaii to pursue his “lifelong dream” of playing American football.
Osei-Nketia reportedly met with NFL scout Keiki Misipeka in December, who he thanked for the opportunity to play with “the best players in college football.”
“Man! I feel so blessed for this opportunity,” Osei-Nketia wrote on Instagram.
“Never thought I would ever have a chance to go to play college football, as it has been a lifelong dream to play football.
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“I’m deeply grateful for @keiki.misipeka, @timmy_n_sherry and @uh_sclapham for giving me this opportunity not just to play American football but to also represent the University of Hawaii, the Braddahood.
“I’m excited to play under the wonderful coaches and play with the best players in college football.”
Standing at six-foot-one and weighing almost 100-kilograms, Osei-Nketia certainly has the size and speed to be successful in one of the toughest sports in the world.
The University of Hawaii unveiled the rising star as a wide receiver – which makes the most sense considering his pace off the mark – although Stuff believe he could also play running back.
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“Ever sine high school, I always found inspiration to play football one day,” the 21-year-old told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
“I wanted to play football with some of the top athletes in America.
“This is the best option. (Keiki Misipeka) made my dreams come true. Without him, it would not be possible. I give thanks to Keiki.”
Speaking with RugbyPass almost two years ago, Osei-Nketia expressed his love for rugby union, as he dreamt of playing for the All Blacks Sevens team at the Olympic Games.
As a teenager he claimed to have scored at least two tries per game while playing the sport for St Edmund’s College in Canberra.
It was during his time in the Australian capital that his passion for rugby began to grow, as he looked to Carlin Isles and Jonah Lomu for inspiration.
“Ever since I was in Australia, I always knew rugby was in my blood, like I always loved playing rugby,” Osei-Nketia told RugbyPass.
“The friends I had back in St Edmund’s College showed me the passion and speed of sevens, so hopefully one day I’ll make a career of actually joining the sevens and hopefully I can make the Olympics for it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments