Shane Beamer details rugby star Neff Giwa's transition with Gamecocks to football

One of the most interesting prospects in South Carolina's 2026 recruiting class was Neff Giwa. The 6-foot-8, 300-pound 20-year-old was actually a rugby star from the Republic of Ireland. He signed with the Gamecocks in March despite holding offers from the likes of Miami, North Carolina and Tennessee. He was recruited to South Carolina as an offensive lineman, and will likely see reps at offensive tackle. 

Obviously one of the more unique parts about Giwa as a South Carolina player is that he has never actually played American football before as a player. Over the weekend, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer updated the status of how Giwa has been transitioning from rugby to offensive line. Giwa participated in some spring practices with South Carolina, and has been with the team for the summer workouts ahead of fall camp in a couple of months.  

 "It's been a challenge for him, don't get me wrong," Beamer said via Gamecocks247. "Coming into football workouts, playing a sport you've never played before, plus you're doing it in a new country, new environment," Beamer said. "He's jumped right in. The effort has been really, really good. Have no question about the physical skills. It's just learning how to play the game of football."

Giwa first caught the attention of the college football world in March, while most teams were participating in spring practices. With a single video of Giwa doing footwork drills with his rugby coach, Brandon Collier, the Irish rugby star instantly caught the attention of Coach Beamer, Miami's Mario Cristobal and several others. 

Brandon Collier, who runs Germany-based Premier Prospects International (PPI). Collier played defensive tackle at UMass, and now runs the program that has helped put, according to The Athletic, 100 international athletes on college football rosters. 

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"As far as getting in there to battle, I've really been impressed with his maturity, competitive spirit to be able to get into the workouts and throw himself in there," Beamer added via 247. "He knows that he's going to struggle. But that's the only way he's going to get better. He's really attacked that. I've really been pleased watching him."

It's early in Giwa's journey, but he could potentially follow in the footsteps of Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata. The seventh-round draft pick by the Eagles was discovered by general manager Howie Roseman for his rugby skills, and he became a starter ahead of the 2024 season, and won a Super Bowl with Philadelphia two years ago. 

It's unclear if Giwa will get any true playing reps this season for South Carolina, but there's a chance he will get to see a snap or two early during the Gamecocks' 2026 season. 

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