The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly set to sign former Wales rugby international Louis Rees-Zammit, with the intention of using him either as a running back or a wide receiver.
Rees-Zammit shocked rugby fans in January when he announced he was stepping away from the sport to take part in the NFL’s international player pathway programme.
The 22-year-old wing had emerged as a key player in the Wales setup, winning 31 caps and scoring 14 tries for his country, including scoring five times at last year’s World Cup.
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Having undergone a 10-week training camp, Rees-Zammit impressed scouts at last week’s combine, where he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds.
He has held talks with several teams, with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos all credited with an interest, but he now appears set to link up with the Super Bowl LVIII winners.
On Thursday, Bleacher Report’s NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported the Chiefs had agreed to sign Rees-Zammit and would make an official announcement on Friday.
Pro Day 2024 ⚡️
What a day and a massive thank you to everyone at the International Player Pathway for allowing me this opportunity It has been a crazy 2 months and something I will never forget for the rest of my life – Cannot wait to see what the future holds pic.twitter.com/5UxhYT0Ycr
— Louis Rees-Zammit ⚡️ (@LouisReesZammit) March 21, 2024
The Chiefs reportedly view Rees-Zammit as something of a hybrid project, with the 22-year-old seen as having the attributes to play both running back and wide receiver.
The NFL has introduced a 17th spot on practice squads for this year, designed specifically for international players, which could heighten the chances of Rees-Zammit making it onto the field.
Speaking to reporters about his long-held ambition of playing in the league last Friday, Rees-Zammit said: “My dad has been a massive role model to me because he brought me up loving the sport.
“He played the sport when he was younger so it’s quite easy to love the game because I’ve been watching it from such a young age. So, it’s always been in the back of my head, but it’s just amazing to finally do it now.”
