Rees-zammit to join Super Bowl winners

Kansas City Chiefs to take a chance on former rugby wing NFL dream moves step closer after impressing in test event

Louis Rees-zammit’s dream of playing in the NFL has moved one step closer with the former Wales wing expected to sign for the Kansas City Chiefs later this week.

According to reports in the United States, Rees-zammit will link up with the back-to-back Super Bowl champions and train this summer alongside Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce as he tries to make it on to the team’s final 53-man roster ahead of the new season. The Chiefs are planning to use Rees-zammit as an “offensive weapon” at running back and wide receiver.

Rees-zammit, 23, has visited multiple NFL teams since participating in the NFL’S international player pathway combine last week in Florida, during which he competed in a number of drills in front of scouts to show off his athleticism, running a 40-yard dash time of 4.46 seconds, which he later admitted to reporters he was disappointed with.

Since the testing event, Reeszammit has visited a number of franchises, including the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos. By signing to play in Kansas he will join the most dominant franchise currently in the NFL, the Chiefs winning three of the past five Super Bowls under coach Andy Reid with Mahomes at quarterback, including Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas last month against the San Francisco 49ers.

Reid’s inventive offensive plays, despite limited options at wide receiver, have been key to the Chiefs’ success, with reports in the US suggesting that the head coach plans to use Rees-zammit in a number of different positions and roles.

Rees-zammit told Telegraph Sport last month that the players he hoped to emulate in the NFL were Christian Mccaffrey and Deebo Samuel, who play as running back/ wide receiver hybrids for the 49ers.

Kick-returner is another likely position the Chiefs will try to use Rees-zammit in, with the NFL also announcing revised kick-off rules this week which could suit Reeszammit’s pace and footwork.

Rees-zammit stunned Wales and Gloucester by retiring from rugby in January to take part in a 10-week crash course for overseas players trying to make it in the NFL.