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Eagles sign Canadian rugby star Adam Zaruba to play tight end

Zaruba, 26, is 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds.

Canada's Adam Zaruba, left, is tackled by England's Dan Norton during the Tokyo Sevens rugby tournament in Tokyo in April.
Canada's Adam Zaruba, left, is tackled by England's Dan Norton during the Tokyo Sevens rugby tournament in Tokyo in April.Read moreShizuo Kambayashi / AP

The Eagles signed Canadian rugby star Adam Zaruba to a three-year contract Monday, bringing him in to play tight end.

Zaruba, 26, is 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds. He joins a tight end group that includes Zach Ertz, Trey Burton, Brent Celek, Anthony Denham, and undrafted rookie Billy Brown.

Zaruba worked out for the Eagles on Sunday and takes the roster spot previously held by cornerback Dwayne Gratz. He cannot join the team until he's granted a visa.

Although he's a rugby star, he played football at the Carson Graham Secondary School in Vancouver. He was also recruited to play at Simon Fraser University. Zaruba joined Canada's national rugby team in 2014.

He's the latest rugby player to join the NFL. San Francisco signed Jarryd Hayne as a running back in 2015. The Eagles also had converted rugby player Sav Rocca as their punter from 2007-2010.