MORE SET TO FOLLOW LRZ?

WALES international Louis Rees-Zammit’s shock move to the NFL will set off a “chain reaction” in rugby, according to double World Cup-winner Handre Pollard.

Rees-Zammit stunned world rugby last month when he announced he was quitting the sport with immediate effect to join the NFL’s International Player Pathway Programme (IPPP).

After dropping the bombshell news moments before Warren Gatland was due to name him in his Six Nations squad, the former Gloucester man flew out to Florida where is he currently being put through his paces as part of a 10-week training camp that will decide if he gets a shot with a team.

While he is not the first rugby star to make the transition to NFL – with former Northampton Saints star Harry Mallinder joining him on the IPPP – he is certainly the most highprofile player to do so, having already won 32 Wales caps, played at a World Cup and toured with the British & Irish Lions all before his 23rd birthday.

Given Rees-Zammit’s status and the shockwaves that his decision sent through rugby, South Africa fly-half Pollard believes others will be inspired to follow in his footsteps. However, as he admitted to former Scotland international Jim Hamilton on RugbyPass TV’s The Big Jim Show, he will not be one of them.

“I enjoy the NFL, I watch quite a bit, but I’ve never thought of [playing],” he said. “But for a guy like [Rees-Zammit] to leave, it’s big. I think it’s going to set off a chain reaction with a couple of guys.

“RG Snyman as a tight end, imagine that? If someone wants to go and try it, go for it, enjoy it, but it’s not for me.”

“Rugby’s too fun,” he added. “I enjoy it. Even though it’s cold in the winter down here in Leicester, running out at Welford Road with your guys together, blood, sweat and tears, I just love that and there’s nothing else for me to be honest.”

Rees-Zammit revealed all about his experience in Florida so far during an appearance on BBC Scrum V and admitted he was “gutted” to have missed out on representing Wales in their Six Nations clash with England. While he said walking away from the rugby was the “hardest decision” he has ever made, he added he was “absolutely loving training” as he pushes to make it onto a roster.

“It’s always been something I’ve wanted to do since I was a young age and I guess I thought now it was the right decision to do it,” he said as he opened up on leaving rugby behind. “I thought it was the right time. Now I’m here, I’m absolutely loving training and my pursuit to be in the NFL is alive. I’m excited to see what the next 10 weeks hold.

“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made. I sat down with my family and went through everything and I came to the decision that I wanted to give it a go now, whilst I’m still young.

“If it works out, then I’ve got 10 years to try and play the sport that I’ve loved growing up watching or I come back to rugby and play the sport I love playing. I’m just excited to see what happens and see what the future holds.”