Jordan Petaia has become the latest Test player to return to rugby after quitting the American NFL.
The former Wallabies utility back has been announced as a new Top 14 signing at Perpignan just weeks after Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit also finished in the States and was unveiled as a new Bristol Bears signing.
Whereas Rees-Zammit was trying to make the cut with the East Coast Jacksonville Jaguars, Petaia was on the West Coast, hoping to make it with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The 25-year-old, who made his Wallabies debut when selected by Michael Cheika to play at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, exited rugby in December 2024, having last played for his country at World Cup 2023.
“Welcome to the USAP!”
He announced that he was leaving the Queensland Reds to join the International Player Pathway that provides athletes from outside of America the opportunity to train for the NFL, and it was April when he was signed by the LA franchise.
That was on a three-year deal, and the outlook was initially promising this summer when he was included to play against the Detroit Lions in a pre-season game at the start of August.
However, a hamstring injury ended his chances of making the 53-player squad for next month’s start to the new 2025/26 NFL season, and he has now surprisingly resurfaced in France ahead of the rugby campaign that Perpignan will begin on September 6th at home to Bayonne.
A 51-second video was posted to social media on Wednesday by Perpignan, accompanied by the following message. “Welcome to the USAP,” it began.
“USAP and its president, Francois Riviere, are proud to announce the signing of a new recruit for this season, an Australian international with 31 caps and participation in two World Cups at just 25 years old. Welcome.”
Perpignan finished 13th in last season’s Top 14 and needed to win a play-off against Grenoble of the Pro D2 to preserve their top-flight status.
Following his hamstring issue, Petaia was placed on the Chargers’ injured reserves list and replaced in the active pre-season squad by Thomas Yassmin, a fellow Australian he had played rugby with at schoolboy level.
Petaia wrote on Instagram last week: “Man, injuries suck, but they’re all a part of the game. Blessed to be able to be living this life, chasing dreams we grew up speaking about. Time to get healthy. Excited to see what’s on the cards next…”