Louis Rees-Zammit: I’m Committed to My NFL Journey Over Rugby Return

Louis Rees-Zammit has disclosed that he received several proposals to return to rugby union this winter; however, he firmly states that he is not prepared to abandon his pursuit of a career in the NFL, and likely never will.

The 24-year-old former Wales winger took the bold step of leaving rugby 13 months ago to chase a path in American football. After a spell with the Kansas City Chiefs, he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad in September and has secured a new contract to stay with the Florida-based team this season.

Pursuing a career in the NFL after transitioning from another sport is notoriously challenging. Given Rees-Zammit’s notable stature in rugby union—where he made a name for himself as a young star for Wales and participated in the Lions tour to South Africa in 2021—many anticipate that he will choose to return to rugby sooner rather than later.

“I never considered that option,” he stated. “I didn’t leave rugby just to give it a shot for a year. It would be foolish for anyone to think I would walk away so soon. I am determined to stick with this path and I doubt I will ever change my mind.”

“I have been actively engaged since the Rugby World Cup two years ago, so I planned to take four weeks off [after Jacksonville extended their contract offer] to recharge mentally and physically before making a decision.”

“I was clear that I wouldn’t leave after just one year; making it in this league is my dream. People did try to get in touch [during my four-week break], but I wasn’t interested in listening. This has always been my aspiration, and I want it to define my career moving forward.”

Rees-Zammit began his NFL journey by joining the International Player Pathway and completing an intensive ten-week training camp in Florida. Following this, he signed a three-year contract with the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs but was ultimately released by the team before the 2024 season commenced, leading him to Jacksonville.

While his brief tenure in Kansas City was a valuable learning experience, it also hindered his progress. At the IPP camp, he trained as a wide receiver, but the Chiefs viewed him as a running back, requiring him to gain nearly 10 kg in a short period. Presently, he is back to playing as a wide receiver and has shed about half that weight.

“While training in the IPP, I was playing receiver and was much lighter, around 92 kg,” he explained. “To take on the role of a running back, I needed to gain additional weight due to the physicality at the line of scrimmage. I ended up at 101 kg, so there was a noticeable difference.”

“In September, returning to the receiver position required further adjustments to my body and more fluidity in my movements. I didn’t feel that the weight slowed me down, but I needed to slim down to enhance my route running and agility. I’m currently back down to about 96-97 kg, which feels ideal for me. The past year has been a complete transformation for my body, and I feel great right now.”

“Being a receiver suits me better as I can unleash my speed and explosiveness. I believe I have good hands, and there’s no doubt I can catch the ball.”

Was the Chiefs’ decision to let him go a setback? “Yes, it certainly impacted my progress, but I am forever thankful to the Chiefs for that opportunity. Even though I played as a running back, I learned invaluable lessons and wouldn’t change my experiences for anything… but transitioning back to receiver during the season is challenging.”

With his immediate future sorted out, Rees-Zammit plans to split his time evenly between the UK and Florida until Jacksonville’s training camps commence in mid-April. He will then focus on physical conditioning and learning the new playbook, following the Jaguars’ coaching change in the offseason.

His objective, as it was last season with the Chiefs, is to make a strong impression in the coming summer training and preseason to secure a spot on the 53-man roster this autumn. “I set targets for myself, but my primary goal is to make the roster,” he affirmed. “I am fully concentrated on achieving that first, and then we can set more goals. I haven’t made a roster in the past year, so now is my moment to demonstrate my abilities to the coaches.”

While Rees-Zammit dedicates himself to his American football aspirations, a difficult phase is unfolding for his former rugby team in Wales, which has not secured a win in 500 days. Notably, his last appearance for Wales in the 2023 World Cup quarter-final marked the beginning of a series of 14 consecutive defeats, culminating in last week’s departure of head coach Warren Gatland.

“It’s tough, without a doubt,” he remarked. “The current situation in Welsh rugby isn’t ideal, but things will turn around—it’s just a matter of time. The players need to push through and secure a win.”

“It will take time to get everything back on track. Leaning on experienced players is crucial. Having Gareth Anscombe back in the mix is significant. You need a seasoned No10 in these situations. Tomos [Williams] as No9 is outstanding, and given that they both play at Gloucester, their chemistry helps. Plus, with Max Llewellyn being the top tryscorer in the Premiership, that will certainly aid the team.”

If they are hoping for Rees-Zammit’s return to assist, they might have to wait a bit longer.