Super Bowl champion Jason Kelce stunned a group of London club rugby players by turning up unannounced to join their practice game.
Jason Kelce has swapped the gridiron for the rugby pitch, and a group of amateur players in London got a surprise they won't forget. The former Philadelphia Eagles centre and Super Bowl winner turned up for a casual practice game, leaving the locals wondering if they were seeing things.
Kelce, one of the most decorated offensive linemen of his generation, spent his career winning battles in the trenches of the NFL. Rugby is a different test: no pads, no helmet, and no stoppages every few seconds. The amateurs who shared the pitch with him say his size and power were obvious straight away, with one joking that he simply ran through him.
The fun carried on off the field. Players described Kelce as great company, and he earned a rave review as good value in the pub afterwards. That fits the larger-than-life personality that has made him a fan favourite well beyond American football.
The kickabout is a reminder of how far sporting crossovers can go when elite athletes get curious about other codes. For a group of weekend rugby players in London, it turned an ordinary practice into a story they will be telling for years.