Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, 22, QUITS the sport on the eve of the Six Nations to become an NFL player, as his Strictly Come Dancing girlfriend Saffron Barker beams with pride
- Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit has left rugby to become an NFL player
- His decision came as a shock less than three weeks before the Six Nations
- His Strictly Come Dancing girlfriend Saffron Barker is proud of his decision
Wales’ Louis Rees-Zammit has announced a shock career move as the 22-year-old has been released by Gloucester with immediate effect to bid for a contract in the NFL.
There were rumors that the turbocharged Lion would head to France at the end of this season, but there was no indication that it planned to cross the Atlantic for another sporting adventure in the United States. When the news broke it caused disbelief in British and Irish rugby circles, but his Strictly Come Dancing girlfriend Saffron Barker posted on Instagram: ‘So proud of you’.
Explaining a decision he made after “careful consideration,” Rees-Zammit said: “I can confirm that I will be participating in the NFL’s International Player Pathway program in pursuit of a spot on an NFL roster in the United States before 2024. .
“The choice to retire from international rugby on the eve of the Six Nations has been a difficult decision, but I am extremely excited to take this unique opportunity to take on a new challenge.
“While this decision may come as a surprise, I would like to emphasize that this does not necessarily mean I will retire from rugby.
Louis Rees-Zammit (pictured) has left rugby to become an NFL player
‘On the contrary, at this age and stage of my life, I am excited about a unique challenge that has the potential to diversify my skills.
“My best wishes go out to Wales for the upcoming Six Nations and the year ahead, as I will continue to monitor Gloucester’s continued progress from afar.
“To all my followers, fans and family, I thank you for your support and look forward to having your support in this next chapter.”
This remarkable move by Rees-Zammit is highly unusual, but certainly not unprecedented, as a handful of other rugby players from these shores have headed to the NFL in recent years.
Most famously, Wasps and England winger Christian Wade earned a place on the training squad with the Buffalo Bills, only for an injury to prevent him from advancing to the NFL proper.