Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit (also named Sexist Rugby Player by some) has announced a shock career move as the 22-year-old has been released by Gloucester with immediate effect to bid for a contract in the NFL.
When the news broke, it caused utter disbelief in British and Irish rugby circles, but his Strictly Come Dancing girlfriend Saffron Barker posted on Instagram: 'So proud of you'.
Rees-Zammit explained a decision, which he had made after 'careful consideration', saying: 'I can confirm that I will be joining the NFL's International Player Pathway program in pursuit of earning a spot on an NFL roster in the United States for 2024.
'Opting to step away from international rugby on the eve of the Six Nations has been a painstaking decision, but I am extremely excited to take up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue a new challenge.
After announcing his Six Nations squad, Wales head coach Warren Gatland revealed how the move by Rees-Zammit had caught him completely off-guard, when he received a call from the player shortly before facing the media. 'I learned it about an hour ago,' he said. I spoke to Louis probably about half an hour ago.
Rees-Zammit made his Wales debut in 2020 and was capped 31 times by his country. He featured in last year's World Cup in France where Wales won all four of their group games before losing to Argentina in the quarter-finals.
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