Josh Weru

Josh Weru
BornJoshua Weru
(2003-10-03) October 3, 2003 (age 23)
Nairobi, Kenya
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight17 st 6 lb (111 kg)
UniversityLoughborough University
Rugby union career
Position Backrow
Current team US Dax
Youth career
2017-2022 Northampton Saints
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020 Kenya u20
2022 Kenya 3 (5)
Correct as of 19 March 2025
Football career
No. 46 – Philadelphia Eagles
PositionOutside linebacker
Roster status
Active
Career information
NFL draft2026: undrafted
Career history
* Offseason or practice squad member only

Joshua Weru is an international rugby union player, who plays for the Kenyan National Team as a Number 8. He is also an outside linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL).

Career

At 14 years old, Weru joined the Northampton Saints Academy.

On the 3 August 2022, Josh Weru signed a professional contract with Northampton Saints after graduating from their Under-18 set up. His main strength was his ball carrying ability with academy coach, Will Parkin saying: “His ball-carrying ability is amongst the very best we've seen at Under-18s level”.

Unfortunately, late in 2022 he lost his contract with Northampton, before he managed to debut for the senior team, due to his aspirations to play for the Kenyan National Team. Under the RFU's eligibility criteria, to secure a working visa to play professional rugby, a player from a Tier 3 nation (such as Kenya) has to have a minimum of 10 international Test caps, of which three must be played during the previous 24 months.

In December of 2025, Weru was named to the NFL's International Player Pathway program, making him a prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 4 in
(1.93 m)		244 lb
(111 kg)		33+1⁄4 in
(0.84 m)		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		6 ft 7+3⁄4 in
(2.03 m)		4.45 s1.59 s2.63 s4.35 s7.66 s41.5 in
(1.05 m)		11 ft 2 in
(3.40 m)		18 reps
All values from HBCU Combine/IPP Pro Day

In April 2026 Weru was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL as an undrafted free agent. He was waived by the Eagles as a part of final roster cuts on August 30; he was re-signed to the team's practice squad the next day.

International career

In 2020 at only 16 years old Weru was called up to the Kenya U20s squad by Simbas head coach Paul Odera.

In 2022 Weru was called up to Kenyan National Team for the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final Qualification Tournament, where he scored on debut. Coming off the bench to run a 60 metre try in Kenyas 68-14 loss to the USA. Weru earned 2 more caps in the remaining matches in the tournament, against Portugal (in which he started at Number 8) and Hong Kong.

International tries

Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
1  United States Dubai, UAE The Sevens Stadium 2023 Rugby World Cup Repechage 6 November 2022 Loss 68-14

References

  1. 1 2 "Josh WERU profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  2. ↑ "Joshua Weru". Philadelphiaeagles.com.
  3. ↑ "Saints sign Weru into Senior Academy set-up". Northampton Saints. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "News // Weru departs Northampton Saints". Northampton Saints. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "Weru situation explained after young forwards departure from saints sparks social media questions". Northampton Chronicle and Echo.
  6. ↑ "Kenya's Joshua Weru Named in NFL International Player Pathway Class of 2026". Pulse Sports.
  7. ↑ "Former Kenya Simbas ace among athletes in 2026 NFL International Player Pathway". Mozzart Sport.
  8. ↑ "Joshua Weru College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Joshua Weru RAS". RAS.Football. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "Four International Player Pathway program athletes to know ahead of 2026 NFL Draft". NFL.com. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "Who is Joshua Weru? Why The Eagles Other IPP Player From Africa Can Be A Force With Uar Bernard". SI.com. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "Eagles add an intriguing prospect from the NFL International Player Pathway". Eagles Wire.
  13. ↑ "Eagles announce initial 53-man roster". Philadelphia Eagles. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Eagles sign 13 players to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  15. ↑ "Highly rated Kenyan youngster Joshua Weru loses pro-rugby contract with English side Northampton Saints | MozzartSportKe". www.mozzartsport.co.ke. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  16. ↑ "Wamalwa, Weru called to Simbas squad for World Cup repechage".
  17. ↑ "Final Qualification Tournament players we'd love to see at Rugby World Cup 2023". Asia Rugby. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.