Jason Kelce turns out for Old Streetonians in 30-minute London rugby friendly

Former NFL centre Jason Kelce played a 30-minute friendly for Old Streetonians against Hackney RFC at Hackney Marshes on Wednesday, appearing alongside former Philadelphia Eagles team-mate Beau Allen.

Kelce, 38, spent 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, was part of the club's 2018 Super Bowl winning side, earned seven Pro Bowl selections and retired in 2024. He is the older brother of Travis Kelce, the three-time Super Bowl winning Kansas City Chiefs tight end who is married to Taylor Swift. Kelce has been learning other sports for his YouTube channel and received a rugby lesson from former Harlequins and England prop Joe Marler prior to the match.

Hackney full-back Peter Scott said his side had been surprised to find a former Super Bowl winner in their opponents and joked about the celebrity link: "It's a nice little story being able to say we played rugby against Taylor Swift's brother-in-law, which I'm sure he loves as a title." He added: "It's amazing that the sporting community, not even just the rugby community, can make these sorts of things happen. It was pretty surreal and it's pretty cool."

Hackney prop Dave Lewis described how Kelce adapted to rugby's rules, saying: "We got a message from our club captain saying our local rivals were coming down with two ex-NFL players, but we didn't know anything else about it." He recounted an early infringement, quoting: "With the rules, he got there. At the very start, he sort of went round the back of a ruck and picked the ball up, which he obviously was then penalised for." Lewis also recalled a physical exchange: "I handed him off at one point and put him on his back in front of his team-mates and all of our fans as well. I hope they release that footage because I'll be dining out on it forever if they do."

Lewis went on to describe Kelce's response during the game, saying: "He just got back up and absolutely smashed me later on when he had the ball, running through me. So, I don't think he has an ego. I think he's just up for the physicality of it all." The report noted Kelce's NFL background as a former centre, an offensive lineman whose main role is to snap the ball to the quarterback and then protect him.

Scott assessed Kelce's physical presence and on-field position, saying: "He's a pretty intimidating figure." He added: "Very broad shoulders, powerful legs. They were using him as a number 8, which, I think, is the perfect position for him." Scott also noted there were technical points to learn: "There were a few intricacies, like how he was carrying the ball and where he was in the scrum, but he clearly knew what he was. He didn't look out of place at all." He described a difference in tackling style: "In rugby you are taught to tackle at an angle, and go at people's shoulders. He was a lot more front on, like 'OK, route one, I'm just gonna go straight at anyone that came out'."

Following the match, Kelce and Allen joined the Old Streetonians for a social visit to a local pub. Old Street chairman Will Gilgrass said: "They were very good value in the pub afterwards. We took them to one of our locals, and they put their cards behind the bar, chatting with the lads for a few hours after the game and really getting involved. They even did our initiation, singing a song and downing a pint." Hackney players were also interviewed by Kelce's American film crew, with Scott saying: "They were asking how he got on, and what were the major differences to translate to an NFL audience. The one I picked up on was the amount of power that he was able to generate after he would get tackled. His leg drives were sensational. It felt like three people would hit him and then he would go for another 20 metres. American football seems to be all about short, sharp, explosive power and he had that in spades - like he was rapid, very powerful, and then would take a backseat for a little while and then come back and do it again."

Kelce is in England this week to commentate on Sunday's NFL overseas game between his former club Philadelphia and the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (14:30 BST).