WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Chris Baumann has racked up plenty of miles over the last few years in his quest to play rugby.

Baumann, a Colorado native, has spent time with the Scottish club East Kilbride, played a club season in Japan for Yokohama Country & Athletic Club and had a stint in Australia with the University of the Sunshine Coast team and in Sydney with the Randwick team — all four amateur clubs — before helping the Denver Stampede win the inaugural PRO Rugby title in the United States.

Now Baumann, 29, is in New Zealand, playing on his first professional contract outside the United States with the Wellington provincial team in the Mitre 10 Cup competition, which is ranked only behind the New Zealand All Blacks and Super Rugby, in New Zealand.

Baumann, a tighthead prop who has played nine times for the USA Eagles national team, is one of a growing number of Americans who are playing professionally abroad.