Article content

Consider step one accomplished for North Vancouver’s Adam Zaruba: He has signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The giant rugby sevens winger tried out for the National Football League team on Sunday.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or North Vancouver's Adam Zaruba signs with Philadelphia Eagles Back to video

Clearly the coaches liked what they saw.

“Now I just have to make it through camp,” he said via a text message exchange on Monday.

According to the team, it’s a three-year deal. He doesn’t yet have a work visa so he can’t jump into training camp until he secures one, but that’s not expected to be an issue.

Zaruba flew to Toronto Monday afternoon, presumably to sort out his immigration paperwork.

His contract doesn’t mean he’s made the team, just that he’s made the first hurdle. There are no guaranteed contracts in the NFL.

NFL teams are allowed to have 90 players at training camp; Zaruba is now the 90th player to be added by the Eagles.

“Today marks the start of a new journey,” he posted Monday to his Instagram account. “I am so incredibly thankful for this opportunity and very excited to be an Eagle. I don’t know how long it will last, but I will cherish every single day and try to be better than the day before.

“Many people were involved in making this possible and I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Time to go to work!”