Louis Rees-Zammit quits rugby in shock move to pursue dream of NFL career

The Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit has stunned the rugby world on the eve of the Six Nations by announcing a career switch to American football with immediate effect. The 22-year-old confirmed the bombshell decision on the day of Wales’s national squad unveiling and will leave for Florida this week to join the NFL’s International Player Pathway.

Gloucester have agreed to release the winger to pursue his “dream” of playing in the NFL rather than feature for his country in rugby’s oldest international tournament in the coming months. The NFL International Player Pathway offers elite athletes from around the world the opportunity to earn a place on an NFL roster.

Rees-Zammit is not the first rugby player to seek his fortune in a different sport in the States but, aside from cross-code transfers to rugby league, never before has a high-profile current British international quit rugby in such dramatic circumstances. The British & Irish Lions winger scored a fine solo try for Gloucester against Edinburgh at the weekend but will not be seen on a rugby field again for the foreseeable future.

In a statement Rees-Zammit said it was “the right time” to leave Gloucester and try something different. “I have had the incredible honour of playing rugby for my country which, as a proud Welshman, I’ve never taken for granted. However, I believe that this is the right time for me to realise another professional goal of playing American football in the US. Those opportunities don’t come around very often.

“I will always be very proud of my time at Kingsholm and want to particularly thank the incredible fans who make the club so special. Also, to my teammates, to George Skivington and Alex Brown, thank you for giving me such special memories and for supporting this next stage of my career.”

Commenting on the announcement, the aforementioned Brown, Gloucester’s chief executive, said: “We understand the size of the opportunity before Zam and his lifelong ambition to play in the NFL. Whilst we are naturally sad to see him leave, ultimately, we are not able to dissuade him from taking an opportunity of this magnitude with the NFL.

“We remain very proud of the role Gloucester Rugby has played in helping to develop him into the world class player he has become, and we wish him the very best in the US. He will always be welcome at Kingsholm.”

Wales, meanwhile, have named a new captain in the form of Dafydd Jenkins and included five uncapped players in their 34-man Six Nations squad. There is also a recall for James Botham, grandson of England cricket legend Sir Ian Botham, in the back row. Wales play their opening game of the championship against Scotland at a sold-out Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 3 February.