Wales rugby union winger Louis Rees-Zammit spoke to Sky Sports about why he decided to pursue a long-held ambition of playing in the NFL by joining the International Player Pathway, and what position he sees himself playing in
Sunday 21 January 2024 07:31, UK
At 22, Louis Rees-Zammit has already climbed to the top of the mountain in one sport. With 14 tries in 31 Test appearances under his belt for Wales at what is still a young age and a devastating turn of pace, he was recognised as one of the most dangerous wingers in world rugby union.
Yet, on the eve of the 2024 Six Nations and with a British & Irish Lions tour to Australia next year on the horizon, he has decided to change tack and attempt to conquer another sport, entering the world of the NFL as part of this year's International Player Pathway (IPP) intake.
The move into American football has happened quickly for Rees-Zammit. He only received the offer to join the IPP last Saturday, was given permission by club side Gloucester to be released from his contract a couple of days later, and on Friday flew out to Florida to begin the 10-week training camp this coming Monday.
Although already an elite-level sportsperson, this opportunity has still been enough to induce a state of child-like delirium.
"I feel like a little kid, and I never thought this day would come, but I'm so happy it has," Rees-Zammit told Sky Sports' Neil Reynolds.
"I've never played a game, so it's going to be difficult at the start. There is going to be a lot of me watching film and certain players, but I think that's going to be the biggest challenge.
"It's a lot of different skills, but at the same time I can improve on what I've got already, so I'm just ready to get into it."
The world of American football is not exactly an alien one to Rees-Zammit, who will be joined by another rugby player in former England prospect Harry Mallinder in the IPP class of 2024.
His father, John Zammit, played at amateur level in this country for both Cardiff Tigers and Oxford Saints, and Rees-Zammit became a fan of the Washington Commanders off the back of his dad's support of the team as well.
Tabbed as a wide receiver or running back prospect, he cites Stefon Diggs, Justin Jackson and Cooper Kupp as the current NFL stars he looks up to, along with confessing to daily YouTube viewings of former Commanders receiver DeSean Jackson in action.
However, he is also eyeing up a role returning kicks - something which his experience bringing the ball out as part of the back three in rugby would seem to make him a natural fit for.
"I'd love to return kicks - that's probably something I love to do in rugby," Rees-Zammit said. "But in terms of position, in rugby I want the ball at all times so it would be somewhere on the offense.
"Running back, receiver, a bit of a hybrid; those are the two positions I want to go for, but at the same time whatever I get told, I'll try to do.
"For me, I guess my main attribute was my speed in rugby, which is very transferable. I'd like to say I've got good hands and don't drop the ball that often, but it's a different sport and the ball comes at you fast.
"I understand it's going to take a lot of work, but I'm very excited and there are a lot of skills like footwork now and then. Obviously, footwork in American football is massive."
Being clocked at a top speed of 24.2mph while scoring a try for Wales against the Barbarians and timed completing a 100-metre sprint in 10.44 seconds last October are signs that the 6'3", 14-stone winger has the physical attributes required to succeed in the high-intensity, hard-hitting NFL.
But it is not just the technical side of the game where Rees-Zammit will have to adapt. There is the off-the-field side too, with the hours of film study, memorising playbooks, learning complex calls and executing the precise routes he will be expected to run either as a receiver or a running back.
He is not the first rugby player to try to make the switch. Fellow union winger Christian Wade spent three seasons on the Buffalo Bills' practice squad, while rugby league star Jarryd Hayne made the 53-man roster for the San Francisco 49ers in 2015 before returning to Australia.
Nevertheless, another Australian in Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata, who played junior rugby league for Canterbury Bulldogs U18s, and Nigerian-British defensive end Efe Obada, currently with Washington and who earned his NFL chance after just five games for London Warriors, have shown players not steeped in American football tradition can carve out a career in the league.
Their example is one Rees-Zammit has his sights on following, along with aiming to blaze a trail for others who want to try to defy the odds and make it on the gridiron as well.
"Those boys are making it now, so that leads me to try to do a similar thing and hopefully I can inspire other players in the UK to do similar things to me," Rees-Zammit said. "Those boys were the start of the journey and hopefully I can be a little bit of that as well.
"It probably couldn't have come at a better time for me, especially as I'm pretty much the same age as everyone coming out of college.
"I've got time to learn the game and learn all those skills. I'm so excited and I still can't believe it's happening."
