Wales Rugby Player Rees-Zammit Expresses Surprise NFL Swap
As he “pursues his dream” of a future in American football, Wales rugby union star Louis Rees-Zammit shocked everyone on Tuesday by announcing his shocking decision to quit Gloucester with immediate effect.
The day of Wales head coach Warren Gatland‘s team announcement for the next Six Nations competition was when Rees-Zammit made his shocking switch.
After starring for Gloucester, Wales, and the British and Irish Lions, the 22-year-old has become one of rugby’s most promising young players.
Rees-Zammit, nevertheless, has decided to give up rugby in favor of a possibly lucrative future in the National Football League in the United States.
This next week, he will go on the “International Pathway Programme,” which enables athletes from other countries to pursue careers in the NFL. He is scheduled to depart for Florida.
The English Premiership team announced in a statement,
“To help the 22-year-old fulfil his ambition of playing in the National Football League, Gloucester Rugby has decided to release winger Louis Rees-Zammit with immediate effect. The NFL International Player Pathway offers top athletes from across the world the chance to qualify for an NFL roster spot, and the Welsh international has accepted the offer to join.”
The 32-time Wales cap winner, Rees-Zammit, said it was impossible to pass up the chance to pursue his NFL ambition.
Rees-Zammit asserted that the decision did not imply that he was giving up rugby, although he would miss the upcoming Six Nations tournament in February and does not currently have any intentions to rejoin a club.
Rees-Zammit would try to get a roster placed on a club in time for the 2024 season, which begins in September since the current NFL season has advanced to the playoffs.
Rees-Zammit, who was 20 years and 93 days old when he was called up for the 2021 tour to South Africa, secured five tries at the World Cup last year and made history as the youngest player to be picked for the British and Irish Lions since 1959.
The revelation of Rees-Zammit has overshadowed Wales’ team announcement. Wales are scheduled to meet Scotland in their first Six Nations fixture on February 3.
Exeter lock up With Jac Morgan, their World Cup captain, likely to miss the Six Nations due to knee surgery, Dafydd Jenkins was named Wales’ new captain.
Along with Bath prop Archie Gryphon, Gatland chose five uncapped players: Cameron Winnett, Evan Lloyd, Mackenzie Martin, and Alex Mann from Cardiff.
The Wales’ Six Nations squad:
Backs: Joe Roberts, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams, Rio Dyer, Tom Rogers, Cameron Winnett, Gareth Davies, Kieran Hardy, Tomos Williams, Sam Costelow, Cai Evans, Ioan Lloyd, Mason Grady, George North, and Jarrod.
The following players are forwards: Taine Basham, James Botham, Alex Mann, Mackenzie Martin, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright, Leon Brown, Archie Gryphon, Adam Beard, Evan Lloyd, Keiron Assiratti, Taine Mathias, Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias, Taine Rowlands, Teddy Williams, and Evan Lloyd.
