FORMER rugby player Travis Clayton from Basingstoke has been drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the NFL.

Clayton, 23, was selected with the 221st overall pick in the seventh round of the NFL draft despite having never played a game on the gridiron.

The six-foot seven athlete was selected from the NFL’s International Player Pathway programme as an offensive lineman.

The NFL's International Player Pathway Program allows potential stars from overseas to impress scouts in the offseason.

READ MORE: NFL International Player Pathway: Travis Clayton selected

Basingstoke Gazette: Former English rugby player Travis Clayton, from Basingstoke, drafted by NFL team Buffalo BillsHe was in attendance at the draft in Detroit to hear his name announced. 

In a post on X, Clayton thanked fans in the UK for the support he has had on his journey.

He said: “Just want to shout out all the UK fans for sticking by me and supporting me and look, I’ve made it to the NFL and now it’s time to represent and show the rest of the world exactly why UK athletes should play in the NFL.”

Clayton recorded his 40-yard dash in 4.79 seconds during the draft combine, which the Bills said was faster than all offensive lineman have recorded over the last 10 years. The dash is primarily run to evaluate the speed and acceleration of American football players by scouts.

As well as rugby, Clayton has spent time boxing and playing tennis.

He previously said: "With rugby also being a team sport, I believe that helps tremendously, my team knowledge and what it takes to communicate properly here and in the future, hopefully in the NFL.

"More importantly playing the wing in rugby helps with the physicality side and with agility and things like that will help."

It comes after former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit signed for Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs in March.

Rees-Zammit, who announced his decision to leave rugby union in January, impressed the Chiefs during his time on the NFL’s international player pathway, with running back and wide receiver his designated positions.

The former Gloucester, Wales and British and Irish Lions wing stunned the world of rugby in January by quitting the sport in an attempt to secure a contract with an NFL team in 2024.