Wales and Gloucester winger Louis Rees-Zammit has made the remarkable announcement that he will be putting his rugby career on hold with immediate effect, to 'pursue his dream' of playing in the NFL.
Rees-Zammit - who was selected for the Lions in 2021 at just 20 years of age and is one of his country's top players - has been invited to join the NFL International Player Pathway, which allows athletes from around the world the opportunity to earn a place on an NFL roster.
Wales Lose Rugby Star To NFL
The 22-year-old will be following in the footsteps of other rugby players such as Racing 92's Christian Wade, who made the Buffalo Bills practice squad through the same pathway program, and was part of their set-up from 2019-2022.
Former Australian rugby league star and Fijian 7s player, Jarryd Hayne, had more success in the sport and even appeared in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers.
Given Zammit's stature within Welsh rugby and the likelihood for him to tour with the Lions next year, it is a huge shock to see the young player at the top of the game make such a move.
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𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗕 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧
Louis Rees-Zammit to join NFL International Player Pathway.
Read the full story 👇
— Gloucester Rugby 🍒 (@gloucesterrugby) January 16, 2024
Louis Rees-Zammit is joining the @NFL International Pathway. Making it will be about more than speed but…
Tyreek Hill (wide receiver, Miami Dolphins) - top speed 22mph.
Louis Rees-Zammit (wing, Wales rugby) - top speed 24mph.
— Alex Lowe 📰 (@AlexMLowe) January 16, 2024
You can literally find running backs ANYWHERE.
28-yr old Christian Wade played rugby in England until this April, when he was allocated to the Bills as part of the NFL’s “International Player Pathway Programme”
Look at that juice!!! pic.twitter.com/3R1GqwCb6S
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 9, 2019
“Gloucester Rugby has been a huge part of my life," Zammit said in a statement released by his club.
"From the start at Hartpury College and my first professional rugby contract with Gloucester in 2020, to my Wales and Lions caps; the Club has been central to my development as a player, and I’m so grateful for their support.
“I will always be very proud of my time at Kingsholm and want to particularly thank the incredible fans who make the Club so special. Also, to my teammates, to George Skivington and Alex Brown, thank you for giving me such special memories and for supporting this next stage of my career.
“I have had the incredible honour of playing rugby for my country which, as a proud Welshman, I’ve never taken for granted. However, I believe that this is the right time for me to realise another professional goal of playing American football in the US. Those opportunities don’t come around very often.”
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