Switching from American Football is certainly paying off for Oxford University prop Will Johnson who helped USA qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Johnson started at tight-head in both play-off matches as the US defeated Uruguay 54-28 on aggregate to reach New Zealand in 2011.

The 25-year-old only took up rugby in 2007 after his hopes of making it as a professional in the NFL ended.

At the end of the following year, he was an unused replacement as Oxford won the Nomura Varsity Match and he is now targeting his first Blue.

In between, Johnson won his first two international caps – against Ireland and Wales.

“American Football is a threshold sport,” said Johnson.

“If you don’t make the next threshold, your opportunities are over.

“I played at high school and college and was trying to play professional football.

“I had two chances, but was cut by the teams I tried for.

“I thought that was it with sport.”

Johnson was then watching a club rugby match in San Francisco when someone suggested that at 6ft 3in tall and almost 19st, he might be quite a useful player.

That was the spark Johnson needed and quadruple Oxford Blue Ray Lehner, who became his coach, suggested he applied to continue his studies over here.

Johnson added: “Making the Varsity 22 last year was brilliant, even though I didn’t get on in the match.

“Without the Varsity, I might not have been in a position to play for USA.

“Then going into the summer and winning a couple of caps, that really helped me for the Varsity campaign.

“I am like a sponge, trying to learn as much as possible.”

USA only beat Uruguay 27-22 in the first leg of their qualifier in Montevideo.

But Johnson said: “We came out with a stronger attitude in the second match and did a lot better job of raising our standard of play.

“It feels fantastic to qualify.”

He added: “To have the representative stuff in the middle of the Varsity campaign is very difficult because you want to give priority to both.

“It is hard to have missed two weeks of Varsity preparations because that is so important.

“But to have the chance to play for your country and qualify for the World Cup was great.”

Johnson is battling with Ricky Lutton and Ollie Tomaszczyk for a starting spot at Twickenham, but could end up on the bench despite being first choice for his country.

How would playing in winning a Varsity Match compare to appearing the World Cup?

Johnson said: “It is difficult to say. The Varsity Match is a very, very special occasion. It is the only collegiate experience like it in this country.

“I can’t say much about the World Cup, although I went as a spectator in France last time and the atmosphere was great.”

Johnson played for Oxford Harlequins after last season’s Varsity Match and was sent off in the Oxfordshire Cup final!

He has not made any plans for afterwards this time, but has not ruled out a return to Quins, who will also have the Dark Blues’ Japanese flanker Tosa Makoto among their ranks.

Johnson said: “I’m just focusing on the Varsity Match for the time being and what comes after that, we’ll see.”