GREEN BAY, Wisconsin, 31 March 2004 — Australian-born punter Nathan Chapman, a retired veteran of Australian Rules Football, signed an American football contract with the Green Bay Packers here Monday.

Chapman played with Brisbane and Hawthorn in the Australian Football League (AFL) before a series of injuries helped end his promising career.

In 1992, Brisbane made him the second overall pick in the AFL draft. Chapman, 28, was considered one of the sport’s brightest young prospects, winning the Rising Star Award.

Chapman played 60 games with Brisbane before struggling with injuries. He then switched to Hawthorn, where he played another 16 games before retiring.

The Brisbane Lions have won the past three Australian football titles. Chapman, born in Kangaroo Flats, played in Australia’s American Football League competition as a prelude to his joining the National Football League.

Financial terms of his contract were not released. Chapman joins Darren Bennett, another former Aussie footballer in the National Football League.

Bennett played with Melbourne and the West Coast Eagles in Australia football before he joined the San Diego Chargers as a punter 10 years ago. He signed earlier this month with the Minnesota Vikings.

Chapman played as a defender while Bennett was a forward when they played in Australia.

The Packers also signed defensive lineman Larry Smith, who was released by the Packers as part of their final roster cut down, but brought back in October and played in the last 10 regular season games and both playoff contests. He had 12 tackles and 1 1 2 sacks. Smith, 29, played four seasons for the Jacksonville Jaguars before joining the Packers last season.