{{Short description|US international rugby union & league player}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox rugby biography | image = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|12|26}} | birth_place = Fagaalu, American Samoa | height = {{convert|6|ft|1|in|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|215|lb|kg|abbr=on}} | position = Flanker | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | years1 = | clubs1 = Aspen | apps1 = | points1 = | repyears1 = | repteam1 = USA | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | repsevensyears1 = 2009-Present | repsevensteam1 = USA 7s | repsevenscomp1 = IRB Sevens }} <!--- {{Infobox NFLactive |image= |name=Leonard Peters |currentteam=Free Agent |currentnumber= |currentpositionplain=Safety |birthdate={{Birth date and age|1981|12|26}} |birthplace={{flagicon|American Samoa}} Fagaalu, American Samoa |country=ASA |heightft=6 |heightin=1 |weight=215 |debutyear= |debutteam= |highlights= |college=Hawaii |undraftedyear=2007 |pastteams= *New York Jets (2007)* *Chicago Bears (2007-2008)* :<small>*Offseason and/or practice squad member only</small> |nfl=PET154576 }} ---> '''Leonard Peters''' (born December 26, 1981) is an American football safety and a rugby player. He was originally signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2007 and was on the Chicago Bears practice squad. He played collegiately at Hawaii. Peters performed as a Polynesian dancer in his native Hawai'i, which includes twirling flaming knives.<ref>[http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=207627 "Jets rookie safety makes presence known"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002071659/http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=207627 |date=2007-10-02 }}</ref> He has also represented the USA Tomahawks in rugby league.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.amnrl.com/news/peters-debut|title = Tips regarding supplementation | American National Rugby League - Rugby league in the United States}}</ref>
==American Football Career== ===College=== Peters played in 50 games for the University of Hawaiʻi at safety, making 290 tackles, defending 20 passes, recording 7 interceptions and two sacks.
===Professional=== Peters was signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad on October 3, 2007.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/chi/chicago-bears Chicago Bears Transactions - 2007]</ref> He was released by the Bears on August 30, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/chi/chicago-bears|title = 2021 Chicago Bears Transactions}}</ref>
==Move to Rugby union== Peters has decided to move to rugby union, a sport from which American football is derived. He was selected for the US 7's for the 2009 World Games in Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090719/SPORTS18/907190366/Peters+named+to+U.S.+rugby+squad |title=Peters named to U.S. rugby squad |access-date=2009-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727121631/http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090719/SPORTS18/907190366/Peters+named+to+U.S.+rugby+squad |archive-date=2009-07-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He showed well enough in the 2009 World Games to have been selected to the USA Squad for the first two legs of the 2009-10 IRB Sevens World Series to compete in Dubai and George, South Africa.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gulfnews.com/sport/rugby/peters-does-rugby-changing-lanes-1.551162 |title=Peters does rugby: Changing lanes |publisher=Gulf News |date=10 December 2009 |access-date=1 November 2022}}</ref> He has been able to turn his success at sevens into a selection to the United States National Rugby Union Team for the 2010 Churchill Cup.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090806064853/http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/news/newsid=2032919.html#nfl+star+peters+crosses+over+sevens Leonard Peters on IRB official Site]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peters, Leonard}} Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:American football safeties Category:American rugby league players Category:American rugby union players Category:American Samoan rugby league players Category:American Samoan rugby union players Category:American people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:Chicago Bears players Category:Gentlemen of Aspen RFC players Category:Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football players Category:Male rugby sevens players Category:New York Jets players Category:People from Faga'alu Category:Players of American football from American Samoa Category:Rugby league players from American Samoa Category:United States national rugby league team players