There are many footballers who have converted from one football code to another at a professional or representative level. In some cases, the player may also return to the original code, so the traffic is not merely one way.
In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, United States, Ireland and Australia, where multiple codes are popular, and the practice of switching codes is relatively common, such players are known as code converts[1] or code hoppers. In Australia, star code converts can have a substantial impact on the games. For instance, Dally Messenger's defection from rugby union to rugby league was considered a pivotal moment in the establishment of the latter over other codes in Australia.[2] [3]
Globalisation is increasing the opportunities for players to transfer to different countries and to different professional sports, including the forms of football.
| Name | Country | Top American football level | Top Association football level | American football debut | Association football debut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | NFL (Baltimore Colts) | NASL (Chicago Sting) | 1972 | 1975 |
| Name | Country | Top American football level | Top Australian rules level | American football debut | Australian rules debut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | NCAA Division I (Iowa State) | AFL reserves (Essendon) | 1991 | 1995 | ||
| USA | NFL (Buffalo – Practice squad) | NEAFL (Gold Coast) | 2013 | 2016 | ||
| USA | Legends Football League (Chicago Bliss) | AFL Women's | 2016 | 2017 | ||
| Australia | Australia, Gridiron Victoria (Geelong Buccaneers) | AFL Women's (Melbourne)(Geelong)(Western Bulldogs) | 2015 | 2017[4] [5] [6] |
American football and Canadian football are very similar gridiron codes; talented Canadian youth players are often recruited by American universities offering scholarships, and conversely the Canadian Football League enforces roster minimums for Canadian-trained players to prevent its clubs from fielding American-dominated teams. The CFL and NFL competed for the same player pool in their earlier years before the CFL settled into a de facto (and from time to time formal) developmental role to its American counterpart. Dozens of professional players move between these codes' top professional leagues every year, making any attempt at a list incomplete at best.
Two quarterbacks in particular became well known in both codes. Warren Moon, a California native who starred at the University of Washington, began his professional career with the Edmonton Eskimos before crossing the border back south to the Houston Oilers and later Minnesota Vikings, earning Hall of Fame recognition in both professional leagues. Doug Flutie, who authored a comeback win for Boston College considered an iconic moment in the history of American college football, began his professional football career in the USFL before moving on to the NFL, then played a long CFL career that led to him being the first non-Canadian honored with induction to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, before returning to the NFL to close his football career. Dwayne Johnson played college football, and was on practice squad in the Canadian Football League. Ricky Williams played 12 seasons in the National Football League, one season in the Canadian Football League (CFL), and four years of minor league baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies.[7]
| Name | Country | Top American football level | Top rugby league level | American football debut | Rugby league debut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | National Football League (San Francisco/Tampa Bay/Oakland) | New South Wales Rugby Football League (Newtown) | 1977 | |||
| France | NFL (Washington – Practice squad) | National League One (Crusaders) | 2006 | 2008 |
NB:
Numerous American football placekickers grew up playing association football (soccer); however, very few have competed at a very high level in their original code. A large number of the first "soccer-style" placekickers of the 1960s, and early 1970s were Europeans and Latin Americans who changed codes in adulthood. Eventually, kickers who changed codes in adulthood were largely, though not completely, displaced by players who were either born and raised in the U.S. or immigrated to the U.S. at a relatively early age, thus receiving more exposure to American football than most of the first soccer-style placekickers.
Most of the women to have played men's American football have crossed over from association football.
| Name | Country | Top association football level | Top American football level | Top representation level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | N/A | ||||
| England | England national football team | ||||
| Spain | N/A | ||||
| Nigeria | Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, 2 others | N/A | |||
| USA | Pro Bowl (American football) | ||||
| USA | Oakland/LA Raiders, 2 others | N/A | |||
| USA | Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, 4 others | N/A | |||
| Germany | Germany national football team | ||||
| Netherlands | |||||
| Austria | Austria national football team (soccer) Pro Bowl (American football) | ||||
| USA | N/A | ||||
| GDR, Germany | East Germany national under-21 football team (soccer) | ||||
| USA | United States U20 (soccer) | ||||
| Austria national football team Pro Bowl (American football) | |||||
| USA | New York Jets (didn't pass tryouts) | US National Team (soccer) | |||
| Germany | N/A | ||||
| Ireland | N/A | ||||
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (cut due to injury) | N/A (due to apartheid, RSA banned from FIFA, 1964–91) | ||||
| USA | First female to play college football | ||||
| USA | First female to play NCAA football | ||||
| USA | N/A | ||||
| USA | |||||
| USA | First female to score a field goal in professional football |
Following the establishment of AFL Women's in 2016 (the first professional women's Australian rules football competition), several A-League Women players switched codes as they could augment their earnings in the off-season. Foot skills are advantageous in switching between these codes and goalkeepers have an advantage in marking and ball handling.
| Name | Country | Top association football level | Top Australian rules level | Top representation level | Association Football debut | Australian rules debut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Canberra United (W-League) | (AFL Women's) | N/A | 2012 | 2022 | ||
| Australia U17 | Adelaide United (W-League) | (AFL Women's) | N/A | 2012 | 2022 | ||
| Australia | Brisbane Roar (W-League) | (AFL Women's) | N/A | 2017 | 2022 | ||
| New Zealand | Perth Glory (W-League) | (AFL Women's) | N/A | 2015 | 2019 | ||
| Australia | Adelaide United (W-League) | (AFL Women's) | N/A | 2009 | 2018 | ||
| Australia | Brisbane Roar (W-League) | / (AFL Women's) | N/A | 2012 | 2018 | ||
| Australia | Perth Glory (W-League) | (AFL Women's) | N/A | 2015 | 2017 | ||
| Australia | Canberra United (W-League) | (AFL Women's) | Australia (soccer) | 2008 | 2017 | ||
| Australia | Melbourne Victory (W-League) Melbourne City (W-League) | (AFL Women's) | Australia (soccer) | 2010 | 2017 | ||
| Australia | Adelaide United (W-League) Canberra United (W-League) | (AFL Women's) | Australia (soccer) | 2012 | 2017 | ||
| Kristi Harvey | Australia | Adelaide United (W-League) | Carlton (VFL Women's) | N/A | 2009 | 2017 | |
| Peter Halstead | New Zealand | Team Wellington (New Zealand Football Championship) | Wellington Australian Football League (AFL New Zealand) | New Zealand (AR) | 2007 | 2016 | |
| Australia | Queensland Roar (Brisbane Premier League) | Brisbane Lions/Hawthorn Football Club (AFL) | N/A | 2006 | 2007 | ||
| Australia | Canberra Eclipse/QAS Sting (Women's National Soccer League) | Australia (soccer) Australia (International rules) | 1999 | 2003 | |||
| Australia | Launceston United SC (Northern Championship) | Melbourne (AFL) | N/A (International rules captain) | 1996 | 2000 |
| Name | Country | Top association football level | Top Gaelic football level | Top representation level | Playing era | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Preston North End F.C., Shrewsbury Town F.C., Ireland underage teams | 2000s | ||||
| Ireland | 2000s | |||||
| Ireland | 1990s, 2000s |
| Name | Country | Top association football level | Top rugby league level | Top representation level | Playing era | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | none | 1920s | ||||
| England | Great Britain (RL) | 1920s |
See also: Australians in American football. Notably, the specialist role of punter in American football requires similar skills to those found in Australian football players.
International rules participation provides experience with the round ball and goalkeeping.
As well as the players below, players known to have played amateur level soccer after retiring from the AFL include Gary Ablett, James Hird, Gavin Wanganeen,[10] Glenn Manton and Ang Christou.
| Name | Country | Top Australian rules level | Top association football level | Top representation level | Australian rules debut | Association football debut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Victorian Football League (Carlton) | Victorian Premier League (Brunswick Juventus) | N/A | 1953 | 1954 | ||
| Australia | South Australian National Football League (Central Districts) | National Soccer League (Adelaide United) | Olyroos (Soccer) | 2003 | 2003 | ||
| Australia | Australian Football League (Hawthorn) | Victorian Premier League (South Melbourne) | Victoria (AR) Australia (Inter-rules) | 1993 | 2005 |
Notably, the specialist role of punter in Canadian football requires similar skills to those found in Australian football players.
| Name | Country | Top Australian rules level | Top Canadian football level | Australian rules debut | Canadian football debut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Bartel[11] | Australia | Ovens & Murray Football League (Wodonga) | Canadian Football League (Hamilton/Saskatchewan) | 2012 |
Some players involved in the Irish Experiment to play professional Australian rules football returned to Ireland and went on to be notable in senior level Gaelic football. Such players have included:
| Name | Country | Top Australian rules level | Top Gaelic football level | Top representation level | Australian rules debut | Gaelic football debut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Victorian Football League (Melbourne) | Gaelic Athletic Association (Roscommon) | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 1984 | 1985 | ||
| Ireland | Victorian Football League (St Kilda) | Gaelic Athletic Association (Derry) | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 1989 | 1991 | ||
| Ireland | Australian Football League reserves (Melbourne) | Gaelic Athletic Association (Derry) | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 1990 | 1991 | ||
| Ireland | Australian Football League (Melbourne) | Gaelic Athletic Association (Dublin) | Ireland (Inter-rules) Ireland (AR) | 1992 | 1995 | ||
| Ireland | Australian Football League (Sydney) | Gaelic Athletic Association (Kerry) | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 2001 | 2009 | ||
| Ireland | Australian Football League (Essendon) | Gaelic Athletic Association (Tyrone) | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 2015 | 2021 |
Early in the history of the two codes in Australia, players would interchange the codes and even had discussions of merging them into a single game.[12] Rugby league has since evolved to specialise in physicality and body type making it more difficult for successful conversion between the two, although it does sometimes happen at junior level, particularly in areas where both codes are played (such as the Riverina region). Though the modern specialist and positions in rugby league can be suitable for the body type and skill of some Australian rules players. League players Darren Lockyer,[13] Glenn Lazarus,[14] Greg Brentnall,[15] Chris Kinna,[16] Eric McCormack,[17] Laurie Daley,[18] Bradley Clyde,[19] Kevin Proctor,[20] Matt Duffie,[21] Shaun Johnson,[22] Tom Trbojevic,[23] [24] Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow,[25] William Warbrick,[26] Kalyn Ponga[27] and Corey Horsburgh[28] all played Aussie Rules at a junior level.
Jason Akermanis was the first professional Australian football player to suggest a switch to rugby union.[35] Nevertheless, there are still some positions and roles that have commonalities.[36] Also at amateur level, conversion is quite common, as in the case of many start-up Australian rules clubs in countries such as France[37] and countries such as New Zealand, Samoa and Papua New Guinea where there are dual-internationals at junior level.
As discussed above, Canadian and American football are highly similar gridiron codes. Dozens if not hundreds of players and coaches move back and forth between Canadian and American codes every season and occasionally even within a season, making assembling a list of these players an impossible and largely immaterial task.
Gaelic football is especially vulnerable to code-switching, for reasons outlined by rugby union journalist Hugh Farrelly in 2009:
| Name | Country | Top Gaelic football level | Top association football level | Top representation level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Ireland | ||||
| Ireland | Ireland, Irish Free State | ||||
| Ireland | Ireland (FAI), Ireland (IFA) | ||||
| Northern Ireland | |||||
| Ireland | Republic of Ireland | ||||
| Ireland | Republic of Ireland | ||||
| Northern Ireland | |||||
| Ireland | Republic of Ireland | ||||
| Ireland | Republic of Ireland | ||||
| Ireland | Republic of Ireland | ||||
| Tyrone U-21s[42] | Scored for Northern Ireland at UEFA Euro 2016[43] | Northern Ireland | |||
| Northern Ireland |
Several ladies Gaelic footballers, including All-Ireland finalists, Niamh Fahey and Sarah Rowe, have gone on to represent the Republic of Ireland women's national association football team.
See also: Irish experiment, Relationship between Gaelic football and Australian rules football, International rules football, Ireland national Australian rules football team and Australian Rules Football League of Ireland. These two codes share many similarities, making switching between them relatively easy. International rules representation for players of both codes is common.The Gaelic Athletic Association prohibits professionalism, meaning that there is a financial lure for players to compete in the professional elite Aussie Rules competitions in Australia.[44]
| Name | Country | Top Gaelic level | Top Australian rules level | Top representation level | Gaelic football debut | Australian rules debut |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland[45] | Kerry minor (Under-18) | NA | 1982 | 1985 | ||
| Ireland | NA | 1982 | 1984 | |||
| Ireland | Derry All-Ireland winner 1993 | NA | 1980 | 1990 | ||
| Ireland | Dublin All-Ireland winner 1995 | 198? | 1992 | |||
| Ireland | Dublin All-Ireland (Minor) winner 1994 | AFL (Brownlow Medallist) | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 1984 | 1987 | |
| Ireland | Kerry All-Ireland winner 2009 | AFL premiership 2005 | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 2001 | ||
| Ireland | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 2006 | ||||
| Ireland | Down All-Ireland (Minor) winner 2005 | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 2005 | |||
| Ireland | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 2008 | ||||
| Ireland | N/A | 2009 | ||||
| Ireland | N/A | 2009 | ||||
| Ireland | N/A | 2010 | ||||
| Ireland | AFL premiership 2022 | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 2011 | |||
| Ireland | N/A | 2012 | ||||
| Ireland | Kerry All-Ireland winner 2007 & 2009 | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 2012 | |||
| Ireland | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 2014 | ||||
| Patrick Brophy | Ireland | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 2015 | |||
| Conor McKenna | Ireland | Tyrone GAA | AFL | Ireland (Inter-rules) | 2015 | |
| Ireland | Kerry All-Ireland minor winner 2015 & 2016 | N/A | 2017 | |||
| Name | Country | Top Gaelic football level | Top rugby league level | Top representation level | Gaelic football debut | Rugby league debut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Gaelic Athletic Association (Valleymount) | Super League (Gateshead/Hull/Wigan) | Ireland (RL) Great Britain (RL) | 1998 | 1999 |
See also: Comparison of Gaelic football and rugby union.
Up until the mid-1990s, both codes were officially amateur. However, the professionalisation of rugby union has provided a financial lure.
| Name | Country | Top Gaelic football level | Top rugby union level | Top representation level | Playing era | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 1960s, 1970s | |||||
| Ireland | 1970s, 1980s | |||||
| Ireland | N/A | 1980s, 1990s | ||||
| Ireland | Local Team, Laois | 1980s, 1990s | ||||
| Ireland | 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, | |||||
| Ireland | Valleymount junior team | 1990s, 2000s | ||||
| Ireland | Aughrim minor team | 1990s, 2000s | ||||
| Ireland | 1990s, 2000s, 2010s | |||||
| Ireland | 1990s, 2000s, 2010s | |||||
| Ireland | 1990s, 2000s, 2010s | |||||
| Ireland | 2000s, 2010s | |||||
| Ireland | 2000s, 2010s | |||||
| Ireland | 2000s, 2010s | |||||
| Ireland | 2010s | |||||
| Ireland | 2010s |
NB: Byrne and Duffy both changed codes twice. Each first switched to rugby union as a teenager, then returned to Gaelic football after a long professional rugby career. This entry discusses their Gaelic football careers before their first code switch.
Lindsay Peat played for Dublin in the 2009, 2010 and 2014 All-Ireland finals before playing for Ireland in the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. The Ireland squad featured at least six other former ladies' inter-county footballers – Niamh Briggs, Claire Molloy, Cliodhna Moloney, Katie Fitzhenry, Nora Stapleton and Hannah Tyrrell.
On 3 March 2015 Jarryd Hayne became the first rugby league player (that hadn't already played in the NFL) to sign a contract with a National Football League team.[46]
| Name | Country | Top rugby league level | Top American football level | Top representation level | Rugby league debut | American football debut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | New South Wales Rugby League (Newtown) | National Football League (Minnesota) | N/A | 1977 | 1978 | ||
| Australia | National Rugby League (Parramatta) | National Football League (San Francisco) | Australia (RL) Fiji (RL) | 2006 | 2015 | ||
| Australia | National Youth Competition (South Sydney) | National Football League (Philadelphia) | N/A | 2017 | 2018 | ||
| Australia | National Rugby League (Cronulla) | National Football League (New York) | Australia (RL) | 2014 | 2019 |
| Name | Country | Top rugby league level | Top association football level | Top representation level | Playing era | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 1920s |
In addition to the senior players listed below numerous schoolboy rugby league players have made a transition to success at senior Australian rules, including Wayne Carey,[47] Paul Kelly,[48] Kieren Jack,[49] Andrew McLeod, Jared Brennan, Matthew Whelan, and Sam Gilbert.[50]
See also: List of dual-code rugby internationals.
While the traffic used to be almost entirely from rugby union to rugby league, the tide has now turned the other way, and numerous rugby league players have gone over to union, since the game was professionalised.
| Name | Country | Top rugby league level | Top rugby union level | Top representation level | Rugby league debut | Rugby union debut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Australia (RL) | 2008 | 2017 | ||||
| England | England (RL) | 2010 | 2016 | ||||
| England | England (RL), Great Brittan (RL), NRL All-Stars (RL), England (RU) | 2006 | 2014 | ||||
| Lebanon, Australia | Lebanon (RL), Indigenous All-Stars (RL) | 2008 | 2016 | ||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand (RL), New Zealand (RU) | 2010 | 2016 | ||||
| New Zealand, Australia | Australia (RL), Australia (RU) | 2004 | 2009 | ||||
| England | England (RL), England (RU) | 2005 | 2007 | ||||
| England | England (RL), Great Britain (RL) | 2005 | 2009 | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RU) | 2005 | 2006 | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RL) | 1995 | 2003 | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RL) | 1990 | 1997 | ||||
| Ireland | Great Britain (RL), Ireland (RU) | 1999 | 2007 | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RU) | 1998 | 2007 | ||||
| England | Great Britain (RL), England (RU) | 1991 | 2005 | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RL) | 2002 | 2006 | ||||
| Great Britain (RL), Wales (RU) | 1993 | 2001 | |||||
| Australia | Australian Schoolboys (RU), City v. Country (RL) | 2003 | 2007 | ||||
| Australia | 2001 | 2004 | |||||
| Australia | Scotland (RU) | 1998 | 2006 | ||||
| England | England Saxons (RU) | 2001 | 2006 | ||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand (RL), England (RU) | 1993 | 2001 | ||||
| England | Great Britain (RL), England (RU), British & Irish Lions (RU) | 1991 | 1996 | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RL/RU) | 1995 | 2002 | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RL/RU) | 1993 | 2002 | ||||
| Australia | State of Origin (RL), Australia A (RU) | 1996 | 2006 | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RL/RU) | 1999 | 2008 | ||||
| Scotland (RL/RU), Great Britain (RL), British & Irish Lions (RU) | 1988 | 1996 | |||||
| Australia | Australia (RL), New Zealand (RU) | 1994 | 2001 | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RL/RU), Fiji (RL) | 1999 | 2003 | ||||
| England | New Zealand (RL), England (RU) | 2002 | 2007 | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RL/RU) | 1991 | 2000 | ||||
| England | Great Britain (RL), England Saxons (RU) | 1999 | 2007 | ||||
| England | RFL Championship/Super League | Great Britain (RL), England (RL), England (RU)[58] | 1992 | 1998 | |||
| New Zealand | 2004 | 2008 | |||||
| Australia | 2002 | 2010 | |||||
| Australia | 1996 | 2008 | |||||
| Australia | 2000 | 2008 | |||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand Kiwis (RL), England (RU) | 2003 | 2008 | ||||
| France | France (RL), France (RU) | 2005 | 2010 | ||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand Kiwis (RL), Samoa (RU) | 2000 | 2010 | ||||
| New Zealand | Tonga (RL), Australia (RU), Tonga (RU) | 2008 | 2012 | ||||
| New Zealand Kiwis (RL), Samoa (RL), Samoa (RU) | 2008 | 2012 | |||||
| Australia | Queensland (RL) | 1989 | 2000 | ||||
| Australia | 2006 | 2011 |
See also: Comparison of American football and rugby union. Rugby union and American football share the same origins, but have evolved into very different games. Both are very physical and require similar body types with high speed and strength.[59]
| Name | Country | Top rugby union level | Top American football level | Top representation level | Playing era |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Australian schoolboys | Australia | 1980s | ||
| United States | 1985–1997 | ||||
| International | 1990s | ||||
| Club (Melrose RFC) | N/A | 1980s/90s | |||
| Brettonwood High School, Durban, South Africa | N/A | 1982–2004 | |||
| France, later USA | 1980s/90s | ||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand under-19 | New Zealand | 1994–2004 | ||
| United States | Highland High School, Salt Lake City, Utah | N/A | 2006–2018 | ||
| United States | Highland High School, Salt Lake City, Utah | N/A | 2007–2013 | ||
| Australia | 2012–2013 | ||||
| USA | Olympics (USA) | National Football League (New England) | USA (7s) | 2012– | |
| 2011–2015 | |||||
| England | 2017–2020 | ||||
| England | 2018–2020 | ||||
| England | 2019– | ||||
| Tonga & United States | High school Rugby Herriman High School | 2020– | |||
| Name | Country | Top rugby union level | Top association football level | Top representation level | Playing era | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | England (both) | 1880s/1910s | ||||
| England | Henley Hawks/ Crusaders | Strathcona Terriers FC | England/New Zealand/Canada | 2000s | ||
| Ireland | Munster/Ireland/British and Irish Lions | 1970s and 1980s | ||||
| Ireland | 1940s | |||||
| Caerphilly RFC (youth team) | Cardiff City/Arsenal/Juventus | 2000s - 2020s | ||||
| 1870s, 1880s | ||||||
| 1996–1997 | ||||||
| England | Yorkshire (RU) | 1920s |
In recent years, several schoolboy rugby union players have made a transition to Australian Rules, including Ray Smith (Queensland Under 19), Jim Stynes, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Aaron Edwards, Adam Campbell (New Zealand Under 15), Daniel Merrett, Brad Moran (West Midlands (England) Under 16) and Tom Williams (Queensland Under 16). In 2012, Canadian Mike Pyke became the first former professional rugby player to win an AFL premiership.
| Name | Country | Top rugby union level | Top Australian rules level | Top representation level | Rugby union debut | Australian rules debut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | British & Irish Lions (RU) Great Britain (AR) | 1886 | 1888 | ||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand (RU) New Zealand (AR) | 1899 | 1908 | ||||
| Canada | Top 14 (France) (US Montauban) | Australian Football League (Sydney) premiership | Canada (RU) | 2002 | 2009 | ||
| Australia | Top 14 (France) (Biarritz) | Australian Football League (Gold Coast) | French Barbarians (RU) | 2009 | 2011 | ||
| Australia | Olympics (Australia) | AFL Women's (Carlton) | Australia (RU7s) | 2014 | 2019 | ||
| Ireland | Leinster Rugby (Ireland) | Australian Football League (Hawthorn) | Ireland U18 (RU) | 2016 | 2017 | ||
| Kendra Heil | Canada | AFL Women's (Collingwood Football Club) | Canada (AR) | 2007 | 2016 | ||
| Australia | World Sevens Series (Australia) | AFL Women's (Carlton) | Australia (RU7s) | 2015 | 2019 | ||
| Australia | Super W (Force) | AFL Women's | Australia A (RU) | 2018 | 2019 | ||
| Australia | Super W (Force/Reds) | AFL Women's premiership | Australia A (RU) | 2018 | 2021 |
See also: Comparison of Gaelic football and rugby union.
| Name | Country | Top rugby union level | Top Gaelic football level | Top representation level | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | ||||||
| Ireland | Aughrim senior team | |||||
| Ireland | ||||||
| Ireland |
See also: Comparison of rugby league and rugby union and List of dual-code rugby internationals. Two of the closest codes, they share many similar skills. Until 1995 union was officially amateur and union players were offered money to switch codes. That trend has since reversed, as rugby union is now richer than rugby league. Conversion from one code to the other is more difficult for forwards than backs, where the skills are most similar. Several players, including Iestyn Harris and Mat Rogers, have converted between the two codes on more than one occasion.
| Name | Country | Top rugby union level | Top rugby league level | Top representation level | Playing era | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | New Zealand (RU/RL) Croatia (RU) | 1980/90s | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RU/RL) | 2010/20s | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RU/RL) | 2010/20s | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RU/RL) | 1960s | ||||
| Australia | Australian Schoolboys (RU) | 2000s | ||||
| Wales/Great Britain (RL) | 1940s/50s | |||||
| Wales/Great Britain (RL) Wales (RU) | 1980s/90s | |||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand (RU/RL) | 1990s | ||||
| Australia | Junior | Australia (RU) | 2000s | |||
| Rugby Football League Championship | 1970/80s | |||||
| Australia | Australia (RU) | 1970s | ||||
| England | Rugby Football League Championship | |||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand (RU) | 1980s | ||||
| Wales/Great Britain (RL/RU) | 1990s | |||||
| Australia | Australia (RU/RL) | 1980s | ||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand (RL) | 1990s | ||||
| Australia | Australian Schoolboys (RU) City v. Country (RL) | 2000s | ||||
| Australia | NRL (Gold Coast) | Fiji (RU 7s) Australia (RL) | 2006- | |||
| England | International | England | 1990s | |||
| New Zealand | New Zealand (RU/RL) | 1990s | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RL) | 1990s/2000s | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RL) | 1977/1992 | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RL) | 2000s | ||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand (RU) | 1980/90s | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RU) | 1980s | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RL) | 1900s | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RU) | 1990s | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RU/RL) | 1950s | ||||
| Fiji (RU/RL) | 1990s | |||||
| Australia | Australia (RU/RL) | 1980/90s | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RU) | 1980s | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RU/RL) | 1980s | ||||
| Wales (RU/RL) | 1990s/2000s | |||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand (RU/RL) | 1980s/90s | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RU/RL) | 1950s/1960s | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RU/RL) | 1990s/2000s | ||||
| Australia, Ireland | Australia (RU), Ireland (RU) | 1980s/1990s | ||||
| Australia | Australia (RU & RL) | 1980s/1990s | ||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand (RU/RL) | 1900s | ||||
| Rugby Football League Championship | 1980/90s | |||||
| New Zealand | Australia (RL) New Zealand (RU) | 1994–present | ||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand (RU/RL) | 1990s | ||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand (RU) Western Samoa (RL) | 1990s | ||||
| England (RU) New Zealand (RL) | 2000s | |||||
| Scotland (RU), Great Britain, Empire XIII (RL) | 1940s, 1950s | |||||
| Scotland (RU) Great Britain, Other Nationalities (RL) | 1960s, 1970s | |||||
| New Zealand | New Zealand (RL/RU) | 2004–present | ||||
| Scotland, B&I Lions (RU) Great Britain, Other Nationalities (RL) | 1920s, 1930s | |||||
| Wales (RU/RL) | 1994–2011 | |||||
| South Africa and Australia (RU) | 1986–1999 | |||||
| South Africa (RU) | 1950s–1960s | |||||
| South Africa (RU) | 1978–1997 | |||||
| South Africa (RU) | 1980–1987 | |||||
| South Africa (RU) | 1955–1963 | |||||
| 1961–1980 |