Who Is The Rugby Star Chiefs Are Wanting To Draft? Get to Know Louis Rees-Zammit
On the eve of this year’s Six Nations competition, Rees-Zammit resigned from Welsh rugby in order to pursue a career in the NFL in America.
Who Is The Rugby Star Chiefs Are Wanting To Draft? Get to Know Louis Rees-Zammit
He is a participant in the 10-week 2024 IPP, which aims to provide athletes the skills they need to be successful in the NFL.
Scouts from all 32 NFL clubs attended the University of South Florida’s Pro Day this month to witness the former Gloucester back, who earned 32 caps for Wales and scored 14 tries.
Rugby star turned football player Louis Rees-Zammit is meeting with the Chiefs. LRZ is 6’3”, 209 and ran a 4.43 40 (he was disappointed in that time). He’s a running back/wide receiver/returner hybrid project. Kinda a long shot but intriguing nonetheless. pic.twitter.com/EUOgnTWjhJ
— Adam Best (@Arrowhead_Adam) March 25, 2024
He is presently competing to be chosen for a team’s summer training squad before to the September start of the new season.
Among the most recent teams to show interest in the Welshman are the Kansas City Chiefs, who have won three of the previous five Super Bowl victories.
Rees-Zammit unexpectedly announced in January that he was quitting rugby in order to try his luck at signing a deal with an NFL franchise.
Here’s an interesting one. The #Browns will hold a workout for rugby superstar Louis Rees-Zammit, who has left the game of rugby to pursue a NFL career as a wide receiver/running back.
The 6’3, 209 pound fullback ran a 4.44 40 yard dash at the NFL international pro day pic.twitter.com/BA5UrIswaB
— Noah Schaefer (@Brownscentral_) March 22, 2024
Shortly before the Wales team was announced, the 23-year-old delivered the bombshell, and head coach Warren Gatland acknowledged that the news was “a bit of a shock”.
After being released by his club, Gloucester, he became eligible for the 2024 Draft by enrolling in the NFL’s foreign player route program.
Few international players have left rugby union to play another sport in the same way as Rees-Zammit, with the exception of moves to rugby league. However, Rees-Zammit is quickly establishing himself as one of “the more popular players” on the show after taking a plane to Florida.
Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit will visit the #Jets & #Browns 👀
He has been clocked running 24.2 mph.pic.twitter.com/2a4G7o91FR
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 22, 2024
This week, Louis Rees-Zammit will have a meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs, the defending Super Bowl winners.
The 23-year-old former winger for Wales rugby union will also face the Denver Broncos.
Due to his participation in the NFL’s international player route, Rees-Zammit has previously met the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns (IPP).
Louis Rees-Zammit, a former rugby player for Wales with 32 appearances, was born in Wales in February 2001. He had previously been a player for Gloucester, an English premier league team, and was regarded as one of the sport’s up-and-coming talents on the global stage.
Louis Rees-Zammit gets 9ft 7in on the broad jump.
He didn't look too happy with that one 👎
📸@DropkickMangan pic.twitter.com/Dyo4MYBHMK
— Dylan James (@dylan_journo) March 20, 2024
Having gone through Gloucester’s academy, he made his first-team debut at the age of eighteen to start his professional career. He was a valued asset for Wales due to his powerful build and lightning-fast speed, and it is just this peak speed that makes him perfect for the American football league.
He would probably play wide receiver or running back because of his exceptional speed and aerial skills. In a game, he was measured sprinting at 24 mph, and he had a comparable level of speed in the 40-yard rush.
Louis Rees-Zammit’s NFL Pro Day.
40-yard Dash
1) 4.50sWR 16th RB 9th
2) 4.44s
WR 24th RB 5th
Broad Jump: 9ft 7in
WR Outside Top 30 RB 19th
Vertical Jump: 29in
WR Outside Top 30 RB Outside Top 30
(Combine comparison rankings)pic.twitter.com/DVFvttFxKm
— Gareth Davies (@GD10) March 20, 2024
How fast is zammit?
The electrifying back three player completed the 100-meter course in 10.44 seconds, giving the impression that he was scarcely exerting any heat.
How much will Zammit earn in the NFL?
Rees-Zammit will start earning about £50,000 when he enters the route. Should he be selected for the NFL practice squad, his salary for the 18-week season will likely be around $12,000 each week, or roughly £170,000.
Louis Rees-Zammit, representing the IPP Program, begins his series of team visits following his Pro Day.
First up are the @Browns & @nyjets, with more in the upcoming days as he aims to secure his first NFL contract 🏴 pic.twitter.com/EIYypphvcM
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) March 22, 2024
Which Welsh rugby player moved to American football?
A goal of the 23-year-old’s is to go into the NFL’s international player pathway (IPP) and eventually play American football in 2024. After relocating to Florida, Rees-Zammit started a 10-week program.
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