Wales and Gloucester rugby sensation Louis Rees-Zammit has announced his decision to pursue a career in American Football in the NFL. The 22-year-old winger has chosen to step away from his successful rugby career in pursuit of this new dream.
This announcement has come at a crucial time, as Gloucester Rugby has confirmed Rees-Zammit’s release in order to enable him to pursue this opportunity with the NFL. The club released a statement saying, “Gloucester Rugby have agreed to release winger Louis Rees-Zammit with immediate effect to enable the 22-year-old to pursue his dream of playing in the National Football League (NFL).”
Rees-Zammit will be participating in the NFL International Player Pathway (IPP), a program created to offer elite athletes from across the globe the chance to earn a place on an NFL roster.
With 32 appearances for Wales and notable contributions to Gloucester and the British and Irish Lions, Rees-Zammit’s decision has taken many by surprise. Expressing his gratitude towards Gloucester, he acknowledged the club’s role in shaping his career as he embarks on this new journey towards American Football.
In his own words, Rees-Zammit said, “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 team-mates, 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.”
The young athlete will be leaving for Florida this week to begin the NFL IPP programme, signifying a significant shift in his sports career trajectory.
This decision not only marks the end of an era for Rees-Zammit in rugby but also opens a new chapter as he pursues his NFL dreams. As he transitions from the world of rugby to American Football, it remains to be seen how his remarkable skills and athleticism will translate to the gridiron.
The sporting community eagerly anticipates the developments as Rees-Zammit embarks on this uncharted territory. His determination and ambition to succeed in an entirely new sport serve as a testament to the spirit of athletic excellence and adaptability.