Louis Rees-Zammit, the Welshman hit by Moroni at the World Cup, changes rugby for the NFL

Become a star NFL It is the dream of the vast majority of children born in the United States. To all of them we must add the curious case of Louis Rees-Zammita 22-year-old Welsh rugby player who played in the Rugby World Cup with his country’s team last September and who in the last few hours has shocked the world of the oval with his decision: he will be part of the 2024 Draft and could be selected from one of the 32 franchises that animate the championship.

The move of the NFL outside the borders of the United States to Europe, with regular season games already becoming common England AND Germanyin addition to his imminent arrival in Brazilnow finds its reaction in the opposite direction: Rees-Zammit, a super sports figure from the Old World, will try to repeat his success in North America.

“I have had the incredible honor of playing rugby for my country, something that, as a proud Welshman, I have never taken for granted. However, I believe that this is the right time to realize another of my professional goals: playing football American in the United States. These opportunities don’t come along very often,” Louis wrote in an Instagram post in which he spoke of a “significant career decision, which I made after careful consideration.”

Rees-Zammit will join the IPP, the International Player Program that the NFL has been promoting for years to encourage the arrival of foreign players. The African region often leads these types of projects, with representatives from various teams coming to the United States looking for the opportunity of a lifetime. In this case the Welshman’s situation is very different because he already shines in another sport.

Joe PomplianoAmerican journalist specializing in American football, has already taken note of the particular story of Rees-Zammit and left a fact to the owners and head coaches which will hunt for the best prospects of the 2024 Draft, which will be held this year in Detroit. “He was clocked running at 38.9 kilometers per hour,” she noted.

That speed, added to his physical prowess (he is 1.90 meters tall and weighs 88 kilos) and his good management of the rugby ball (very similar to that of the NFL) gives hope for a concrete possibility of adaptation for the young man Welshman, who, however, has already warned that he will not retire from the sport he has practiced all his life.

“This doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll retire from rugby, but at this age and at this stage in my life, I’m very excited to explore a unique challenge that will allow me to diversify my skills,” Louis said in his post.

The decision shocked Welsh rugby circles because it occurred before the start of the traditional tournament. Six Nations, where Louis was a permanent fixture in the call that coach Warren Gatland will announce in the coming days. The so-called “Red Dragons” are a team with a lot of history in the competition in which they participated. Italy in 2000: they are the most winners (6) behind England (7), together with Francewith one more than Ireland (5) and away from Scotland and the Tanos, who still couldn’t celebrate.

“My best wishes to Wales for the Six Nations and the year ahead,” wrote the first? rugby player, ahead of his team’s debut in the competition, scheduled for February 3 against Scotland. Gloucesterhis Premiership Rugby team said goodbye to him and wished him good luck on his new path: “We have decided to release him with immediate effect to allow him to pursue his dream in the NFL,” they wrote from the English club founded in 1891.

Louis Rees-Zammit and his black afternoon against Los Pumas

The 22-year-old Welshman attracted media attention during the Rugby World Cup where his country ended up eliminated in the quarter-finals at the hands of Argentina, and not really for sporting reasons.

Good old Louis was a starter in the Welsh team that lost 29-17 against Los Pumas on 14 October in an epic match, remembered for Emiliano Boffelli’s goal against the posts and Nico Sánchez’s decisive try but remained etched in the memory for the equalizer by Matías Moroni “cogotazo” by Matías Moroni, saving the national team in the most difficult moment of the match.

It was Rees-Zammit himself who suffered that unforgettable action from the Argentine full-back, who was left with the desire to support a try scored just a few centimeters from the goal. For many, that tackle could be considered among the most important in the history of The Pumas.

“Loved being out there with the guys! It’s a shame we couldn’t make it all the way but we gave it our all, thanks for all the support,” Louis wrote after the elimination.