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Louis Rees-Zammit fails to make Kansas City Chiefs roster – report
By Liam Heagney
The ambitious attempt by Louis Rees-Zammit to be selected by Kansas City Chiefs for the 2024/25 NFL season a year after featuring at the Rugby World Cup for Wales has ended in disappointment as he wasn’t selected on the American football club’s 53-man player roster.
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Tuesday was decision day for Rees-Zammit, with Kansas head coach Andy Reid facing a deadline to officially confirm his squad ahead of a campaign that begins for the defending SuperBowl champions with a September 5 home match at home to the Baltimore Ravens.
Ahead of the club’s official announcement, media reports in the States have claimed that Rees-Zammit has been told he hasn’t made the squad. Signed by the Chiefs last March after emerging at the start of the year through the International Player program following his bold decision to quit rugby with Wales and Gloucester, the winger had featured in all three of his AFC West club’s pre-season matches.
Having missed out on the official 53-man squad, Rees-Zammit will now hope to be named later this week in the 17-man practice squad which will train with main team throughout the autumn and winter but none of these players will be available for match selection.
Following last Thursday’s 34-21 home friendly loss to the Chicago Bears, Reid was asked for his verdict on how Rees-Zammit had done throughout their August match preparation period.
The #Chiefs are releasing former rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, per sources. pic.twitter.com/1eoebTsuV0
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 27, 2024
“I tried to give him the ball a little bit tonight. He had some real positive yards,” reckoned Reid. “That will be good for him to see and study himself in live action like that. He is a heck of an athlete. It’s just a matter of getting more familiar with it as he goes here. We will see how everything works out for him.”
Louis Rees Zammit poured his heart & soul into football ?? @LouisReesZammit pic.twitter.com/1vaB5eZT4S
— NFL on DAZN (@NFLonDAZN) August 27, 2024
Not like Welsh rugby is going anywhere fast. The money is also better in the NFL so chance it
So it was always a long shot for this year, that’s why he signed a three year contract. My understanding is that as LRZ is not designated as an IPP player he will be on the ‘waiver’ list, meaning he can be picked up today by any other team for their playing roster. Albeit this is not likely given his required trajectory as a project player. However, on the practice squad he CAN still be selected for the match day team up to 3 times over the season. My money says he sticks with it for now and tries to make the squad next year and that was likely his expectation from the start. Different story next year if he doesn’t make the grade though…
Except the contract will have a payout clause if he's cut, and he was. If he isn't one of the 17 kept for the practice squad he is vack to the UK. Considering his position on the depth chart, his making the practice squad is highly unlikely.
Thanks for the info-most interesting. I was wondering what comes next for him.
Well if anything its a cautionary tale for anyone considering going down this route and shows the major differences in the two sports
Let the man return to rugby union🤔. If he quit RU, why should be talk about it? Kindly desist from discussing about him!!😒
Sonny Bill Williams changed codes & sports more frequently than most change passwords but he too is newsworthy. LRZ will likely be on Wales 6N squad by Nov tours.