Psalm Wooching will not be playing in Italy after all this fall. In March the US Eagles flanker signed a one-year deal with Viadana of Italy’s top domestic division – the Eccellenza – but the club has now confirmed that the move will not take place.

In a statement on their website, the club noted that the deal was off due to ‘physical problems’ and the decision made by mutual consent. In conversion with Gazzetta di Mantova, Viadana General Director Fausto Parmigiani suggested that the problem was likely a carry-over from his collegiate football career.

Wooching has made a swift rise in rugby after switching his focus to rugby from American football. He made a positional switch from wing to flanker and was included in the USA Select side for the 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge. He then graduated to full test honors in the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship, making his debut in the No6 shirt against Chile.

It is now unlikely he will land a European contract for the coming season with preseason fixtures just weeks away. A spot on a Major League Rugby franchise looks a good bet with the 2019 season due to start in late January.