Louis Rees-Zammit is loving every minute after swapping rugby for American football and declared on Sunday night ‘his pursuit to be in the NFL is alive.’
But the now ex-Wales wing admitted he was ‘jealous’ and ‘gutted’ as he watched his former side beaten by England in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday from Florida.
Rees-Zammit was one of rugby’s biggest names. But he shocked the sport in which he’s grown up in January when he left his club side Gloucester with immediate effect.
The 23-year-old wasn’t named in Wales’ Six Nations squad as a result and moved to the USA to take part in the NFL’s international player pathway program.
Rees-Zammit’s hope is to gain a new career in the sport.
Louis Rees-Zammit declared on Sunday night that his dream to play in the NFL is ‘still alive’
The former Wales wing shocked the rugby world when he quit the sport to chase an NFL career
He said it is ‘something I’ve wanted to do since I was a young age’ after turning his back on a career in rugby
‘It’s always something I’ve wanted to do since I was a young age. I guess I thought now was the right time to do it,’ he told BBC Scrum V.
‘Now I’m here I’m loving training and my pursuit to be in the NFL is alive. I’m excited to see what the next 10 weeks hold. I’m out here training hard and will see what happens.
‘I’ve been working as a wide receiver and done some running back stuff as well. There are a lot of transferable skills in rugby in that respect.
‘It’s a 10-week program here in Florida. We’re training six days a week and you’ve got 10 weeks to learn the game. Then you’ve got a pro day and it’s down to you to impress the scouts and the clubs to see if you’re good enough and if your dream becomes a reality.
‘I’m excited to see what the future holds.’
The 23-year-old admitted he was ‘jealous’ of watching as Wales lost to England on Saturday
Warren Gatland’s side lost 16-14 at Twickenham in the round two clash and have lost both matches so far
After leaving rugby behind, Rees-Zammit has watched Wales’ Six Nations defeats by Scotland and England in 2024 so far from the USA.
Warren Gatland’s side were beaten 16-14 at Twickenham in their round two clash.
‘I watched the game. I was jealous of the boys playing,’ Rees-Zammit said of the weekend’s game between England and Wales.
‘It was in my mind. I was pretty gutted. The boys put a hell of a shift in. They just managed to lose which is tough but I thought there were a fair few players who gave it their all.’
Former Wasps wing Christian Wade made an attempt to become an NFL player before returning to rugby. It is notoriously difficult for those who haven’t grown up with American football to star in it. Rees-Zammit was speaking on the eve of the Super Bowl on Sunday night – the highlight of the NFL calendar which saw Kansas City Chiefs face San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas.
Rees-Zammit left his club side Gloucester with immediate effect in January after making his decision
Former Wasps wing Christian Wade (left) made an attempt to become an NFL player before returning to rugby
‘Gats (Gatland) was unbelievable with me. I explained the situation and he was very supportive of me. I’ll be coming back to rugby if this doesn’t work out,’ Rees-Zammit said.
‘It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made. I sat down with my family and came to the conclusion I want to give it a go now while I’m still young.
‘If it works out I’ve got 10 years to play the sport I’ve loved growing up watching. If not I can come back to rugby and play the sport I love playing.’
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