Rory Beggan says he is determined to win an NFL contract.

It has been confirmed that the Monaghan All-Star will attend an American Football combine along with fellow inter-county goalkeepers Mark Jackson (Wicklow) and Charlie Smyth (Down) in Indianapolis from February 27 to March 4. The trio are hoping to impress scouts from all 32 NFL teams with their place-kicking skills, while former Ireland U20 rugby full back Darragh Leader is also travelling and is aiming to make it as a punter as well.

"It's an unbelievable opportunity," Beggan told BBC NI.

"It’s something that hasn't come around too often in Irish quarters. You're looking at Dan Whelan at the minute, who is nailing it with Green Bay [Packers] and that's something that we want to do.

"We're not going over here to just tick a box, to say we have been at the NFL Combine, that's not what we are trying to do. We're going over here to try and get a contract and try to become one of the best 32 kickers in the world.

"It's not a tick-box exercise or a bucket list, we are going over here to succeed."

The three GAA goalkeepers were invited the attend after impressing during a two-stage selection process at Loughborough University in the UK and Dublin last November.

Introducing the International Player Pathway Class of 2024!

Established in 2017, the league’s IPP program aims to provide elite international athletes with the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills and ultimately work to earn a spot on an NFL roster. pic.twitter.com/rHM998TOlJ

— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2024

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