The Kansas City Chiefs will sign former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit on Friday to play running back and wide receiver, according to NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.
Schultz added that Rees-Zammit “fielded interest from quite a few NFL teams” and also visited the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos.
Rees-Zammit, 22, announced in January that he was leaving rugby and joining the NFL’s international player pathway. He was one of the bright young stars in his former sport, which made his departure for professional football a stunning development.
“I have had the incredible honor of playing rugby for my country which, as a proud Welshman, I’ve never taken for granted,” he said in a statement at the time (h/t ESPN). “However, I believe that this is the right time for me to realize another professional goal of playing American football in the US. Those opportunities don’t come around very often.”
He made 31 Test caps for Wales on the wing and at fullback, scoring 14 tries. He added on Instagram in January that he wasn’t necessarily retiring from rugby, but wanted to “explore a new challenge that has the potential to diversify my skill set.”
During his pro day on Friday, Rees-Zammit posted a 4.43 in his 40-yard dash, a 9’7″ broad jump and 29″ vertical jump. Even if he takes time adjusting to life in the NFL—it’s no small feat changing sports, especially at the highest level—the NFL added a 17th spot on the practice squad this year specifically for international players, and teams will be allowed to elevate such players to the active roster up to three times.
That will increase his chances at living out both his own and father’s dreams.
“It’s always been on my mind,” he told reporters Friday. “My dad has been a massive role model to me because he brought me up loving the sport. He played the sport when he was younger so it’s quite easy to love the game because I’ve been watching it from such a young age. So, it’s always been in the back of my head, but it’s just amazing to finally do it now.”
The NFL’s international player pathway has led to several success stories, most notably Philadelphia Eagles star left tackle Jordan Mailata, a former Australian rugby player. Rees-Zammit will be hoping to replicate that level of success with the defending champion Chiefs.
2024-03-28 00:11:15
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