Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit says making the NFL will be “the proudest moment of my life”.
Former Wales Gloucester and British Lions winger Sensational exit from rugby in January Switch to American football.
The 23-year-old is completing a 10-week training and development camp as part of the International Player Pathway (IPP) in Bradenton, Florida.
The program is designed to attract players from outside the United States to play American football.
On March 20, Rees-Zammit will participate in a professional day with 15 attendees. It’s a showcase of their talent and NFL team scouts will evaluate their suitability for a contract.
In an interview with Sky News, Rees-Zammit – nicknamed ‘Rees Lightning’ for his speed – talks about his ambitions, his inspirations and the NFL’s biggest fan, singer Taylor Swift.
On pursuing an NFL career
If I don’t try it, I will regret it for the rest of my life. I totally believe I can do this.
My dad has always been a role model to me, he competed as a teenager – he loved the game and raised me to love the game.
Louis Rees Zammit
He always supported Washington.we have a season ticket Manchester United The 2014 season, so I was 13 years old, and almost every time I went on the road, I would watch a video of a guy named DeSean Jackson – I used to watch all his videos on a three-hour trip to Manchester, I would watch all his videos, his documentaries, etc.
I want to carry on (my dad’s) legacy and create my own and inspire as many people as possible to go home and try and believe in themselves.
Tell that to his Wales coach Warren Gatland and co.
My teammates are so supportive and I can’t thank them enough. They all messaged me immediately to wish you good luck.
Image: PA
Gates (Warren Gatland) was very good to me. He didn’t know until five minutes before the announcement, so it was hard for him and it was hard for me because it was definitely the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life.
I gave him a ring and he said: Go out and smash it.
He asked, ‘What happens if it doesn’t work?’ Of course, I would go back to rugby. So, he just left and I couldn’t be more grateful for that and I couldn’t be more grateful for the support my kids gave me.
On the challenges of switching to the NFL
Transferable skills like ball handling, running back… would be a lot easier for me.
Obviously, helmets and pads are completely different. The first few days were difficult because you have to use your peripherals (vision) a lot, but we’ve been doing this for seven weeks and it’s one of those things you just get used to.
It’s more of a route run, with the ability to accelerate and stop instantly.
You try to run a route and then all of a sudden, you have to turn around and try to catch the ball with your helmet on, but you get used to it.
We do this hundreds of times, so after a few, you get a feel for where you are.
Mentally, you have to be so active. This is a highly competitive industry with little room for error and you can’t afford to forget anything.
Rees-Zammit believes he can use his football skills to help him play in the NFL.Image: AP
A lot of it is mental, being able to transfer what you learn in the classroom to the field.
In rugby, there are about 20 games. In the NFL, you have to try to learn 80-100 points in a game.
Presentation from NFL scouts at pro day
I’m really excited to be able to show people what I’m capable of in this sport. I’ve worked incredibly hard over the past seven or eight weeks to get a feel for the game, not just on the court but off the court.
I want to show these scouts what we learned and I’m excited to get there that day and perform.
I have complete confidence that I can get the job done. If there was any doubt in my mind that I couldn’t do this, I wouldn’t be here.
About Taylor Swift, Musician and Celebrity NFL Fan
I think it’s good for the sport. She attracts people to love the sport, which is great. I also like singer Taylor Swift.
There are a lot of people who have different comments or different opinions, but I think it’s really good for the sport and it attracts a lot of people.
Taylor Swift hugs Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after the NFL Super Bowl.Image: AP
He fell behind in the Wales team
It’s a new World Cup cycle, so we have a lot of young people, which is great. We’ve had a really good game, now it’s a question of how to put that 80 minutes together.
I have no doubt that the more games you play, the chemistry will get better and the kids will know how each other plays and how to run.
It’s difficult to just throw a bunch of players in and say “get better.”
What would success look like?
It’s not a matter of money, it’s not a matter of location, it’s a matter of having a plan.
I don’t want to look too far ahead. I have no preference for a team, I just want to join a club that supports me and I will do everything for them.
For my dad, having his son join the NFL would be the proudest moment of my life – not just my dad, but my brother and my mom are so supportive and I never could have done it without them.
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We were very close, we did everything together, I mean, they would come out and live with me.
They have supported me since I started playing sports at the age of six and I think they have probably missed about eight games in my life purely because of lockdown.
They travel the world with me and I give back to them in every way possible.
if he returns to rugby
I started in Gloucester and wanted to finish in Gloucester. Ultimately, if they hadn’t given me the opportunity to play professional football, I wouldn’t be here today.
So I absolutely love Gloucester, I love the club, I love the supporters, I love everyone there. So, Gloucester is my first choice.
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