New Washington Commanders signing TJ Maguranyanga was a highly-respected rugby winger, who even played for France's ASM Clermont Auvergne, but watching clips of Baltimore Ravens legend Ray Lewis ignited his NFL dream.
Following a sun-drenched Saturday of action we now know the make-up of the playoff picture in France and the PRO14 and Aviva Premiership semifinal lineups.
The PRO14 playoffs are now confirmed and with the Aviva Premiership and French Top 14 facing a dramatic finish next weekend, there is still much to play for with playoff places up for grabs and team eager to book a place in next season's Champions Cup.
It is all about the playoffs as the Aviva Premiership, PRO14 and Top 14 edged even closer to the finish flag. The Champions Cup and Challenge Cup may take centre stage this week but there is still plenty at stake after the latest round of games.
It is now or never for many teams across European rugby's domestic competitions as teams battle it out for relegation and playoff positions in the Aviva Premiership, PRO14 and the French Top 14.
Following a thrilling weekend of knockout European rugby we have a much clearer idea who will lift the Champions and Challenge Cups.
Dan Carter came off the bench to play a vital role in the two second-half Racing tries that sealed a 28-17 Champions Cup quarterfinal win at Clermont.
ESPN's experts predict which teams are set for a big weekend, which players will shine and where your attention should be trained across all of the quarterfinals.
An injury-ravaged season in the Top 14 means Nick Abendanon and his Clermont teammates must win the Champions Cup if they want to play in the competition next season.
After a weekend of rugby that required all your fingers, toes and a calculator, the quarterfinal line-ups in both the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup have been finalised.
Holders Saracens will face top seeds Leinster in a mouthwatering European Champions Cup quarterfinal.
Clermont are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup as winners of Pool 2 thanks to a 24-7 victory over Ospreys - and bagged a home game in the knock-out stage.
European rugby is back as the quarterfinal line-ups are finalised. ESPN's experts predict which teams are set for a big weekend, which players will shine and where your attention should be trained across the two competitions.
Northampton secured back-to-back wins in all competitions for the first time since September as they inflicted a first Champions Cup defeat of the season on Clermont Auvergne.
European rugby is back for 2018 as the quarterfinal line-ups are finalised. ESPN's experts predict which teams are set for a big weekend, which players will shine and where your attention should be trained across the two competitions.
A late penalty from fullback Scott Spedding made it back-to-back victories for Clermont over Saracens in the Champions Cup.
European rugby is back with another stacked fixture list. ESPN's experts predict which teams are set for a big weekend, which players will shine and where your attention should be trained across the two competitions.
Saracens' Champions Cup hopes look to be in tatters following an error-strewn 46-14 defeat to Clermont, their biggest ever European defeat.
Saracens owner Nigel Wray sided with Clermont as he hit out at Champions Cup organisers European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) over the handling of the pair's rearranged fixture.
Clermont's trip to Saracens will not be a wasted one after all but how did we get to this point? ESPN recaps the events that have led us to Monday evening's game.
Clermont have accused Saracens of "incompetence" and claimed they were cut out of negotiations over the rescheduling of their Champions Cup Pool 2 match in a strongly-worded statement posted on its website.
Saracens' rearranged Champions Cup clash with Clermont Auvergne will no longer be played behind closed doors after the hosts confirmed all tickets for the fixture remained valid.
Saracens' Champions Cup clash with Clermont-Auvergne has been postponed due to "adverse weather conditions" around Allianz Park.
David Strettle returns to Saracens with Clermont looking to help the Top 14 champions scale new heights in the Champions Cup.
Tom May does not believe that any of league leading Montpellier's players caught the eye in rounds nine and 10 of the Top 14, but who did impress the former Toulon centre?
