Édition du Nord

Select Edition

Nord Nord
Sud Sud
Mondial Mondial
Nouvelle Zélande Nouvelle Zélande
France France

Louis Rees-Zammit a signé avec les Kansas City Chiefs : c’est quoi la suite ?

Louis Rees-Zammit signe pour les Kansas City Chiefs (Photo : Chiefs ).

Louis Rees-Zammit (23 ans, 32 sélections), ex-futur espoir du Pays de Galles pour la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2027 en Australie, a fait un pas de plus vers la réalisation de son rêve de participer à la NFL en signant un contrat de trois ans avec les champions du Super Bowl, les Kansas City Chiefs.

Rees-Zammit est-il officiellement un joueur de la NFL ?

Pas encore, mais c’est maintenant que les choses sérieuses commencent. Après avoir laissé une impression positive dans le cadre du programme IPP (International Player Pathway) de la NFL, l’ancien ailier gallois a décroché une place dans l’équipe d’entraînement des Chiefs. Maintenant, il doit prouver qu’il mérite d’être inclus dans leur liste active de 53 joueurs avant le début de la nouvelle saison le 5 septembre. Même s’il n’est pas choisi, les règles permettent à un joueur international d’être sélectionné jusqu’à trois fois au cours de la saison.

Quel sera son poste ?

Il est encore trop tôt pour le déterminer avec certitude, mais il a plusieurs options à sa disposition : devenir running back, wide receiver, une combinaison des deux, ou se spécialiser comme kick returner. Cette dernière option semble être sa meilleure opportunité d’accéder à la NFL, du moins dans un premier temps. Les changements de règles prévus pour la prochaine saison visent à augmenter le nombre de retours de coups de pied, et c’est là que les compétences instinctives de course de Rees-Zammit, son aptitude à repérer les failles dans la défense, et ses capacités athlétiques seront le mieux mises en valeur. En dehors des différences telles que la présence de bloqueurs et l’obligation de porter un équipement de protection, ce poste le rapprochera le plus du rugby sur un terrain de football US.

Quelles sont les chances de réussite ?

Même avec les aptitudes physiques impressionnantes de Rees-Zammit, percer dans la NFL sera extrêmement difficile. Sa vitesse sur 40 yards, son agilité, et ses compétences en matière de réception sont indéniables, mais il est en compétition avec des athlètes qui ont été formés dans ce sport depuis leur enfance. Les instincts acquis par une exposition précoce au football américain lui manqueront, et il devra surmonter des défis tels que l’apprentissage des schémas de jeu, des règles, l’adaptation à un ballon de taille différente, et l’assimilation à une nouvelle culture sportive. Changer de code, entre le rugby à XIII et à XV, est déjà un défi en soi ; s’adapter à un tout nouveau sport représente un défi supplémentaire de taille.

Quels sont les autres joueurs de rugby à XV qui ont réussi ?

Personne, vraiment. Christian Wade est l’exemple le plus médiatisé de l’IPP, ayant été recruté par les Buffalo Bills en 2019. Malgré un début impressionnant marqué par un touchdown de 70 yards lors d’un match de pré-saison, il n’a jamais intégré la liste active et est retourné au rugby à XV en 2022 en rejoignant le Racing 92. D’autres joueurs, tels que Hayden Smith, originaire d’Australie, et Daniel Adongo du Kenya, ont également tenté leur chance en NFL, mais leur expérience s’est limitée à quelques apparitions. Si Rees-Zammit réussit, il deviendra donc le premier véritable succès de cette transition.

Que se passera-t-il si la greffe ne prend pas ?

Le passage en NFL représente une opportunité gagnant-gagnant pour l’ancienne vedette des Lions et de Gloucester. S’il réussit avec les Chiefs, il deviendra une superstar du sport britannique. Au pire, même s’il ne perce pas, il pourra retourner au rugby en sachant que les clubs seront nombreux à vouloir recruter un finisseur qui a inscrit 14 essais en 32 sélections avec le Pays de Galles. De plus, s’il honore son contrat avec les Chiefs jusqu’au bout, il n’aura que 26 ans.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Commentaires

0 Comments
Soyez le premier à commenter...

Inscrivez-vous gratuitement et dites-nous ce que vous en pensez vraiment !

Inscription gratuite
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING 'World-class finisher' offers All Blacks selection solution Mark Tele'a scores a double at Allianz Stadium
Search