Just announced that Louis Rees-Zammit has an immediate release from Gloucester to try out for the NFL International Player Pathway. That's going to hurt both Gloucs and Wales!
I suppose he is young enough compared to Wade, who tried it later in his career to make it a success.
However, I expect him to never get out of the practice squads.
Saying that he will make much more money for playing virtually no competitive sport.
Good luck to him.
Gloucester are rubbish at the moment. Welsh club rugby is broken. 2-3 years guaranteed good wage. If it works out, big money on the cards. If it doesn't, he can resume his career at 24/25 and have another 5-8 years in his prime
Interesting! A quick search suggests that no rugby player who has played at a senior level has been successful in the NFL. There are a couple of Māoris, David Dixon and Riki Ellison, but they both went through the American college system.
This is what Christian Scotland-Williamson did, lasted four years on practice squads before coming back.
Players can and do stick on the pathway. The most high profile one was a guy called Jordan Mailata who is now one of the best in his position. He’s 6’9 and 150kg plus! Difference is that he went over at 20 and had only played “A” team equivalent rugby league in the NRL in Australia. Nowhere near the history LRZ has and much more malleable.
There are others, but they’re lower profile. One guy is coaching now I think though so people do get full careers over there and not come back.
LRZ is the age that players get drafted into that league at, so it’s prime time for him to work over there for 3-4 years and come back if he never transitions fully. Profiles as a wide receiver most likely. Think Wade played running back rather than receiver despite being a winger on the rugby pitch.
It won’t work like it didn’t for Wade, but as above, he’ll get some money.
He won’t play any sport mind you.
He also needs to weigh about three stone more if his height on Wikipedia is accurate….
Good decision by him. With all the issues Welsh rugby is going through at the moment, it will be a breath of fresh air. Nice payday, and if it dosen't work out in a few years, he will know he will have his pick of clubs anyway, by which point things might have calmed down internationally too.
Also, if he tries it for 18 months to 2 years and it doesn't work out, he can be back in time for the next World Cup.
I don't know what sort of figures the squad players earn, but using the superstars as a metric, he'll earn much more in NFL than he ever would in rugby. I hope it works out for him.
This is what Christian Scotland-Williamson did, lasted four years on practice squads before coming back.
Players can and do stick on the pathway. The most high profile one was a guy called Jordan Mailata who is now one of the best in his position. He’s 6’9 and 150kg plus! Difference is that he went over at 20 and had only played “A” team equivalent rugby league in the NRL in Australia. Nowhere near the history LRZ has and much more malleable.
There are others, but they’re lower profile. One guy is coaching now I think though so people do get full careers over there and not come back.
LRZ is the age that players get drafted into that league at, so it’s prime time for him to work over there for 3-4 years and come back if he never transitions fully. Profiles as a wide receiver most likely. Think Wade played running back rather than receiver despite being a winger on the rugby pitch.
I can only assume this is a lie, as nobody by that name exists.
I can only assume this is a lie, as nobody by that name exists.
If only there was an easy way to check...
Lillian S. Cowhands-Romanticist
💰 💰 💰💰 good luck to him, a loss to rugby union and hopefully he might return someday after he has made some decent money if that is the reason for him leaving. The loss of Welsh players playing in the Wales is a big problem and hopefully the same doesn’t happen in England. I think there is a big problem with the salary cap for all home nations teams that needs to be addressed asap.
I can only assume this is a lie, as nobody by that name exists.
He did turn out for Quins a few times, just a few, now working in law somewhere
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