Friday 26 May 2017 11:34, UK
Former England Sevens player Alex Gray is one of four players to benefit from the NFL's new International Player Pathway programme.
Gray, who most recently played for Championship side Yorkshire Carnegie, will link up with the Atlanta Falcons after all four teams in the AFC South were given an additional practice squad place for an overseas player.
Two more players from England will also join NFL teams - former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Efe Obada signing for the Carolina Panthers while Bath-born defensive end Alex Jenkins has been assigned to the New Orleans Saints.
German-born linebacker Eric Nzeocha completes the quartet and will join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
All four have been training in Florida for the past three months under the supervision of dual Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora and NFL UK's head of football development Aden Durde.
Gray, who will play as a tight end, said: "I have been working hard for this goal and to be told it was going to happen was an amazing moment.
"This is the start of another journey. It is a fantastic thing that is happening, but I am not going to get to where I want to be without keeping myself grounded.
"Making the decision to give this my all from rugby, there was a big transition period and it was mentally very humbling. When you have to start from scratch again, that was a huge mental battle for me. When I look back I will be very proud of the way I approached this."
Umenyiora added: "This is going to change people's lives. They have a great opportunity.
"They are going to be seen not only by their new teams but by everyone who might imagine they can be NFL players. They will inspire people around the globe; people who never thought they had a chance to make it to the NFL."
