Rugby Star Louis Rees-Zammit to Pursue NFL Career After Leaving Wales Squad

Rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit announced Tuesday he's leaving the sport behind for now in order to chase an NFL career.

"Opting to step away from international rugby on the eve of the Six Nations has been a painstaking decision, but I am extremely excited to take up a once in a lifetime opportunity to pursue a new challenge," he said. "My immense gratitude also goes to Gloucester Rugby—a club that is extremely close to my heart—and particularly George Skivington and Alex Brown, for allowing me to head in a different direction over the next few weeks."

Brown, Gloucester Rugby's CEO, said he and others at the club "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," he said in a statement.

The NFL unveiled its International Player Pathway Program in 2017 in an effort to bring more foreign-born players into the league.

Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata is the most notable success story from the initiative so far. Mailata played in the Australian rugby league before trying his hand at American football in 2018. The Eagles selected him in the seventh round of the 2018 draft, and he has gone on to appear in 62 games through his first four years.

ESPN's Tom Hamilton wrote that Rees-Zammit "is by far the biggest rugby star to try to crack NFL via the pathway." In addition to starring at Gloucester, he has represented Wales at the international level.

The timing of the 22-year-old's decision added to the shock. He announced the news on the same day the Welsh Rugby Union confirmed its squad for the Six Nations, the annual tournament that pits Wales against England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland.