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2024 NFL International Player Pathway Spotlight: Louis Rees-Zammit, WR, Wales

Perhaps the biggest story within this year’s NFL International Player Pathway is that of Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit.

The news of the 22 year-old’s commitment to American football was released minutes before the Wales rugby team announced their squad for the upcoming Six-Nations tournament. Naturally, Rees-Zammit’s name was not on the team roster.

The explosive winger burst onto the scene for Gloucester as a teenager before making his international debut in October 2020. Since then, Rees-Zammit has become one of his country’s star players. He recorded five tries in last year’s Rugby World Cup, where he helped Wales reach the quarter-finals.

“I have had the incredible honor of playing rugby for my country which, as a proud Welshman, I’ve never taken for granted,” Rees-Zammit said. “However, I believe that this is the right time for me to realize another professional goal of playing American football in the U.S. Those opportunities don’t come around very often.”

With a 6’3”, 210 pound frame and great ball skills, Rees-Zammit is listed to be trying his hand at receiver or running back.

The young rugby star has clocked in at a top speed of 24.2mph in games – for comparison, Tyreek Hill’s fastest ever speed was 23.2mph. Although Hill was carrying pads and a helmet, it’s clear the Welshman won’t struggle to keep up with the speed of NFL players.

Where Rees-Zammit will have to rapidly improve, however, is the very unique and nuanced skills involved in running routes and operating in an NFL offense.

A first look of Rees-Zammit on the gridiron was released to his social media platforms:

This video was also released days later of the rugby star working on his route-running mechanics:

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