Alex Gray has decided to quit rugby union and pursue a career in American Football after joining the Atlanta Falcons as part of the NFL's International Player Pathway scheme.
Gray has represented Newcastle, London Irish and Yorkshire Carnegie, and was named in the original extended Great Britain Sevens squad for last year's Olympics until injury scuppered his hopes of competing.
The 26-year-old is one of three British-based men to sign as an overseas player for NFL practice squads and will be eligible to train full-time with the Falcons but cannot be activated to the main roster during the season.
London-raised Efe Obada and Bath-born Alex Jenkins have joined the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints respectively, while Germany's Eric Nzeocha will link up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Gray, whose position has been listed as tight end, said on the Falcons' official website: "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."
The signings come after the NFL granted teams in the NFC South division - chosen at random - an exemption for an 11th practice squad member in order to accommodate the programme.
Obada, 25, moved to London aged 10 from Holland and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2015 but did not make it off the practice squad, while fellow defensive end Jenkins, 24, played college football at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.
