The Indianapolis Colts’ first-round selection Laiatu Latu isn’t just an impact player on the football field. He also has a history of success on the rugby pitch.
The No. 15 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which made some history, has been a major topic of discussion, especially in regard to the neck injury he suffered during his time at Washington. Despite that, his passion for rugby helped shaped the person and player he is today.
He started playing the sport in fifth grade and eventually was considered one of the top young rugby players in the country by his senior year of high school.
Of course we dug up Laiatu’s high school rugby highlights. 💥
(via @Hudl) pic.twitter.com/QsfJYla7nW
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 26, 2024
When Latu was forced to medically retire in 2021 due to his neck injury he shifted his plan to go back to playing rugby—a sport that he is infatuated with.
“I love that sport with a passion and actually that whole aura around the game. It’s a loving game. You get to play both sides and it’s a non-stop sport, and you get to travel the world as well and experience new cultures and meet different people,” Latu said in 2022 via The Athletic.
GRADES: How NFL draft experts graded Colts’ pick Laiatu Latu
It was just two months after his neck fusion surgery that Latu was already on the pitch playing club rugby. Latu eventually received a three-day camp invite from the Seattle Seawolves, a Major League Rugby team.
His showing at the camp led to a contract offer which he turned down because he still had the passion to play football.
A topic that he dove into with Maxx Crosby on The Rush podcast.
He also joined NFL Total Access early this month and talked about turning to rugby after he was medically retired.
“It was easy not to give up.@UCLAFootball EDGE @laiatu_latu joined @wyche89 to share his story of being medically retired from football and leaning on rugby to hone his skills to return and become one of the most dominate pass rushers in college. (via @NFLTotalAccess) pic.twitter.com/NBMwlo0jLE
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 20, 2024
During that appearance, Latu spoke about how playing rugby helped his tackling fundamentals in football.
.@UCLAFootball Edge Rusher @laiatu_latu breaks down his best plays and how rugby helped his game😤@wyche89 pic.twitter.com/keAwrtGRGU
— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) April 19, 2024
During Latu’s first season at UCLA, his head coach Brian Kelly chatted about his athletic instincts and how his history playing rugby helped enhance his performance on the football field.
“He’s all of 6-foot-5 and he can really bend and move. I think a lot of that has to do with his rugby background because he’s so fluid and can play in space and also strong enough and physical to play inside.”
Rugby helped Latu become the player he is on the field and helped him get through a dark period in his college career.
Pretty fascinating when you consider where he was just a few years ago. And who knows, we have seen Shane Steichen use Zaire Franklin in offensive packages, and maybe down the line, Latu could get an opportunity to run someone over as he did on the rugby pitch.
For more Colts coverage, check out Cody Manning’s work on Sporting News.
