NFL-Former Wales rugby wing Rees-Zammit signed by Kansas City Chiefs

Former Wales rugby international Louis Rees-Zammit has been signed by Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL franchise said on Friday. The 23-year-old wing announced his decision to leave rugby in January, an hour before Wales announced their Six Nations squad, to join the NFL International Player Pathway (IPP), along with 15 other international hopefuls.

Former Wales rugby international Louis Rees-Zammit has been signed by Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL franchise said on Friday.

The 23-year-old wing announced his decision to leave rugby in January, an hour before Wales announced their Six Nations squad, to join the NFL International Player Pathway (IPP), along with 15 other international hopefuls. The IPP training camp included athletes from eight countries coming from different sporting codes, including basketball, athletics, Gaelic football, Australian rules football, and rugby.

At the end of the training camp, the athletes are eligible to fill a 17th practice squad roster spot for one of the 32 teams — an extra spot reserved for international players. Rees-Zammit did enough to impress NFL scouts at the IPP earlier this month, and his workout included a 4.44-second 40-yard dash, and is targeting a hybrid role, combining the running back and wide receiver positions.

After attracting interest from the likes of the New York Jets, Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns, it was the Chiefs who won the signature of the Welshman. Rees-Zammit made 32 appearances for Wales, scoring 14 tries. He made his debut in 2020 and won the Six Nations Championship with Wales in 2021. His last game for Wales came at last year's World Cup, when they lost to Argentina in the quarter-finals.

"Hi Chiefs Kingdom, Louis Rees-Zammit here. Just signed, can't wait to go and see you all at Arrowhead," he said in a video posted by the Chiefs on social media platform X. In January the Chiefs won their second consecutive Super Bowl title in a 25-22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, and Rees-Zammit will now attempt to make their final 53-man roster for next season which starts in September.

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