1
Clip of Louis Rees-Zammit beating defenders in NFL rookie camp sets tongues wagging
By Ian Cameron
Footage of a Louis Rees-Zammit training ground run at an NFL rookie mini-camp with the Kansas City Chiefs has set tongues wagging after it was released on social media.
ADVERTISEMENT
The video shows the 23-year-old Welsh rugby star using his rugby skills to dodge defenders after receiving the ball. The footage shows Rees-Zammit cutting inside defenders in the drill rugby style before making a dart up the field.
“During the Chiefs rookie minicamp, there was a moment when running back Louis Rees-Zammit broke free,” wrote Jesse Newell from the Kansas City Star. “Quarterback Chris Oladokun connected with him on a halfback screen, and Rees-Zammit suddenly found himself in a familiar spot, given his rugby background: Rees-Zammit accelerated in the middle of the field, evading tacklers more than 40 yards before whistles eventually stopped the play.”
Rees-Zammit spoke following the session about the similarities between the two games.
“I’d say when I get the ball in my hand it’s pretty similar, it’s getting open field space,” said in a press conference at the camp. “It’s about how I do that. So if I’m in the backfield the footwork, I’m used to being able to pick gaps, use my awareness. Route running is obviously completely new to me. Being able to accelerate and decelerate pretty much at the same time is pretty tricky. But yeah, the more reps I do the better I’ll get and it’s going to take time. It’s definitely going to take time but I am willing to put the work in.”
He also discussed his initial impressions of the game and its differences with rugby union.
“It’s completely different. Obviously, in rugby, it’s very free-flowing. Unless you get a set-piece in rugby, that’s when you call a play. So there are probably 20 to 30 plays a game whereas here you are talking hundreds. It’s been interesting to learn the playbook… I have only been here for a week but yes, I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
The video – although extremely short – of Rees-Zammit apparently doing well in a drill has certainly got rugby fans – if not hardened NFL fans – excited.
That’s why they call him Rees Lightning ⚡
LRZ catching out of the backfield and taking handoffs in @Chiefs camp pic.twitter.com/QkaTcJpcW5
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) May 10, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
Rees-Zammit’s journey to the NFL has been unconventional. In January, he departed Gloucester prior to the Guinness Six Nations to join the NFL’s international player pathway program, a 10-week course designed to integrate non-American talents into the league. It led to him signing with the Chiefs in late March.
Rees-Zammit’s transition to American football was inspired by his father, a fervent NFL fan.
Proof.
That if you lay dramatic instrumental hip hop music over a video of a skinny pale white kid running an unopposed zig zag on a training ground filled with rookies - it’ll look next-level epic!
why is this garbage rival sport that’s poaching rugby talents being promoted on a rugby website backed by world rugby again?
Content shortage.
Money money and more money…the NFL is exciting and lucrative - just avoid the brain damage
Because a young Welsh international, British and Irish Lion has recently decided to try his luck at a game that boasts the most impressive athletes on the planet and takes elite competition and performance to a level that rugby couldn't possibly reach, so it's very interesting for anybody with more than a passing knowledge of rugby to see how LRZ fares in the world of NFL, given that he has very limited experience of the game and has only just switched from Union to NFL. It's fascinating, the fact that you regard NFL as “a rival sport” is testament only to a lack of understanding of the intricacies of either sport. LRZ wasn't poached by NFL, he made a brave decision to walk away from a sport he had already mastered and took up the challenge of a new sport by going through the near impossible route of the NFL IPP program. From there he sufficiently impressed the coaches of the current Superbowl champions to be offered a contract. That's incredible.
Haha he does the exact opposite of what you’d expect any receiver to do, Brilliant!
Minicamp rules include no-pads and no tackling.
I also highly doubt he was training with the behemoths in the KC defence line. Who I highly doubt, even if he was, would give him a Water Boy style tackle in the medulla oblongata while the social media manager was on the sideline shooting for the gram.