Louis Rees-Zammit

BluePlanet

Anybody following Louis Rees-Zammit?
Welsh rugby player that is part of the International Player Pathway Program.

He was picked up by the KC Chiefs and was originally training as a WR, but then later we were told he's trying out as RB. I suspect WR is too specialized a position for a rugby player.

Infact I think there are very few positions that a rugby player could transition into.
RB and FB, maybe TE.
OL maybe (if you're a big prop).

So far the Chiefs have had LRZ run the ball at least once against the Jags, but a DL made a good play coming off a block and tackled him before he could get beyond a couple yards.

LRZ also caught a pass from Mahomes in the flat on a 2nd down that didn't go very far, again Defense was there.

He kicked off at least once, which might actually be a good position for him as he is big enough to tackle.

Last outing he also returned the opening kickoff but probably should have taken a knee and got the ball on the 30. He managed to break through 1 tackle and was brought down on the 27 i think.

So all in all, rather lackluster and I'm assuming doesn't make the 53 man roster.

Xavi6

Chiefs fans so yep, I've been following since he signed. All of the plays you outlined about just shows how hard it is to make it at NFL level, especially coming from another sport. It would be a great story if he was signed and he's very marketable (the Chiefs gave him a lot of social media publicity when he joined) but practice squad might be his best bet.

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365233/louis-rees-zammit

It's impossible for someone who has only done a 10 week crash course in the IPP and then whatever time from then to now to take and hold down a skill position spot on an NFL roster, and in the process beat out guys who have played the position since the they were 5.

There is always a lot of hype from the media this side of the world about rugby players breaking the NFL but it always fizzles out.

He might be kept as a specialist kick or punt returner or something but nothing more than that.

What is far more interesting from an Irish point of view is Charlie Smyth, former Down GAA u20 goalkeeper signed as a kicker by NO after the IPP.

He kicked a game winner(only 35 yards mind you) a few weeks ago and has appeared as a kick off guy in both games so far.

He also kicked a 65 yarder in some other Saints training camp game they played.

Whether he shows enjoy to take a roster spot off the incumbent is another thing.

And even if he does a kickers life is a precarious one, a bad Sunday and you are on the kerb Monday morning.

Xavi6

4 carries for 21 yards with a long of 10 in the final preseason game. Not bad but also not as impressive as Carson Steele who had a highlight reel moment and looked good again. Pacheco, Edwards-Helaire, Prince, and Steele are all ahead on the pecking order.

BluePlanet

Watched a video there talking about LRZ.
They were making the point that talking about Practice Squad isn't a demotion.
Making it onto the Practice Squad is winning.
There are only like 16 places or something like that.

ArmaniJeanss

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122534392#Comment_122534392

Practise squad salary is $50K a month, so 5 months of that wouldn't be too much of a downgrade on his expected rugby earnings anyway. Would probably justify the risk he took.

Fr Tod Umptious

He has been cut, so he's not making the 53 man roster

Fr Tod Umptious

Charlie Smyth also got cut by the Saints as did Jude McAtemney by the Giants.

Smyth is likely to make the Saints practice squad if/when he clears waivers.

ipitydafool

The IPP in relation to practise squads are good in that teams can designate you as such and you dont count against the normal 16 but cant be signed to the active roster at any stage during the season though this year you can get elevated for 3 games. Given Smyth a kicker not sure how the Saints will play it, probably will go down that route anyway.

LRZ in a tougher boat as Chiefs already have a Nigerian offensive tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick designated under the IPP for their practise squad.

Fr Tod Umptious

Smyth cleared waivers and is back with New Orleans on the practice squad.

Not a bad outcome for him.

https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/1828839021864464518?t=ICmV5huf3jhhaWOOsV7t6A&s=19

Xavi6

Rees-Zammit is heading to the Jaguars’ practice squad.

Fr Tod Umptious

Not about LRZ but about Charlie Smyth who is still on the Saints practice squad.

It must be really difficult to break in as a kicker especially for the likes of Smyth who has no game experience.

I see today that San Francisco had Anders Carlson kicking, a guy that was cut earlier in the season by Green Bay, this is a week after having Matthew Wright kicking last week.

Green Bay themselves signed and started veteran Brandon McManus this week after benching the rookie they started the season with.

And Detroit had a guy who shined in the UFL kicking for them in the clutch today.

There are just so many kickers out there "on the street" as it were, and the position is so precarious that it could be very tough for Smyth to ever see game time.

Fr Tod Umptious

He's going back to rugby.

It's no real surprise, it's almost impossible to make it at those skill positions without ever having played the game before.

You need the college football experience.

Even kicking and punting, the two Irish guys who played NFL last year both had college football experience.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/us-sport/2025/0801/1526436-louis-rees-zammit-ends-nfl-career-and-returns-to-rugby/

castletownman

Good riddance.

The notions these fellas have.

We'd laugh if a yank or anyone else came over here and tried to make it at inter-county level without any real experience of the game. This is a whole different kettle of fish.

At least someone like Mailiata converted to the sport into a position that requires size and strength as opposed to ball catching skills etc.

wanderer 22

The cheek of him committing 18 months to a childhood dream!

Vinnie222

Yes, the NFL is a different beast, but it’s not as if Louis Rees‑Zammit walked in expecting to dominate overnight. He went through the International Player Pathway, trained with elite athletes, and actually made practice squads with top franchises. That’s no small feat for someone switching codes. Rees‑Zammit took a risk, tested himself at the highest level in a foreign sport, and gave it a proper go. That’s more than most would dare. Even though it didn’t work out long term, he’ll have learned a ton and returns to rugby with an experience very few players can claim.

FantasyFool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123689675#Comment_123689675

Might be worth googling Danny "The Yank" Culloty

LeoD

The IPP is little more than a publicity stunt to grow the NFL's international viewership. Yeah the odd player might make it all the way to main roster but there's plenty of homegrown players that could do the same job as these international players but their back story wouldn't be as interesting and this is all about entertainment. LRZ was never going to make it but we've had non-stop reporting on his 'progress' in training camp for the last year and a half. I see Charlie Smyth kicked 2 FGs at the weekend - surprised it didn't get a mention in the Irish news anywhere - much easier for an Irish audience to appreciate successful kicks than a 7 yard carry or a couple of QB pressures.

amacca

I found the Rees zammit thing interesting tbh

Could anyone tell me why it would be so impossible for someone without the college football experience but still an elite athlete pick up some of the skills positions (to me hhey are all skill positions anyway - just the skills might differ and some skills might be rarer than others I suppose)

In my naivety I assumed pace, quick reactions, hand eye coordination, an eye for a gap, agility, physicality and a willingness to learn and work should at least give you a chance of competing for a spot in 12/18 months..assuming you get practice and some gametime...I didn't think running back wouldn't necessarily be beyond him..

What's the gap are we talking .....is it 10ths of a seconds slower reaction time etc...it must be clearly visible/even measurable or I'd say some team would have given him a chance...you would assume he might generate an roi with the increased interest in him due to ehere he came from and the league itself might use it to promote the IPP ...more exposure, more marketing

Is the gap ever something that can be overcome or are we talking lottery odds of such an athlete

Torrey

The most challenging part would be learning all the plays imo.

I can't understand why LRZ didnt try and make it as a defensive back, free safety or nickel back would have been ideal for him, he would have the size, speed and most importantly the tackling ability coming from rugby.

ELM327

The possibility to just switch codes to any position outside of k/p really isn't there, the complexities of each playbook to learn - and not only that but to unlearn the GAA or Rugby instincts and replace with NFL ones - is massive. Trying to do that and get ahead of players who will have 15+ years of up to and incl HS & college football is ludicrous.

Without some sort of feeder league with international based youth teams or something it's just not possible.

amacca

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123758757#Comment_123758757

I'm not arguing, genuinely interested

What kind of rugby instincts would need to be unlearned that would be counter productive in nfl...are we talking related to tackle, protecting yourself when receiving the ball, running evasively vs straight north south with power, attempts at protecting yourself or not on collision etc?

ELM327

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123761150#Comment_123761150

So let's say you're a number 8 right, and used to running with the ball. That could be akin to a larger running back. The way the game (rugby) is taught today in a lot of ways is to seek out contact, bring support player/s in and set up triangle runners for the next break. An RB should avoid contact. The (shudder) rugby league skills would be better transferable as to my knowledge they use a similar downs system to the NFL, but again, there's no concept of a dead ball reset

Similarly the tackle philosophy would be different, in that rugby players - especially forwards - are taught to hold the man up and either go for the ball or try and get a turnover. Usually in football a tackle is one on one initially, and the aim is to get the man to the ground.

Then, assuming you want to be a skill player, you have to learn zones, coverages, route trees etc in addition to the play itself. You can't play any offensive position without knowing who should be blocked and being able to blocked. Even WRs these days it's required. Take our example of the RB above, if you can't pass block on 3rd down you're not an every down back. That's in addition to the more subtle aspects of the game you'd have to learn to play it.

Again, coming back to our RB example and forgetting about passing, even, to play devil's advocate. A lot of the game of rugby is based on the player's decision on the field, but in the NFL the RB isn't handed the ball and told have at it. The linemen need to know where to block so there's a play called, and in order to know where to run, you need to know which zone you're running into - 2-4-6 for a right sided run or 1/3/5 for the left for instance. Are you running an off tackle run, a zone run inside or out, is it a dive, an ISO etc. And then what if there's an audible.

And all that is just to play running back. Not mentioning QB, WR etc on offense, or the dark magic of defense.

These are all things that can be learned of course, but I've been watching football (and playing madden!)for over 20 years and I'm still learning. (I played rugby for a number of years too). If it were my job of course I would learn faster but you have to remember again, you're competing against players that have this stuff fed to them as kids.And the money and industry behind football in the US even at the highschool level. If you're coming in from outside at 24 say, you're already ~15 years past pop warner. Even if you were born as the next Tom Brady, if you were born in Georgia Europe instead of Georgia USA you're not making a team.

csirl

Think of it another way. Do you think somebody who never played rugby or soccer could play in the 6 Nations or Champions League after 2 years of training with a team? I think its unlikely. NFL is no different.

I agree that the cross over athletes are just a marketing ploy by the NFL. And many people involved in the sport think including them in the IPP is preventing other more deserving athletes from getting an opportunity.

The reality is that the vast majority of International athletes who make it in the NFL are those who played American football growing up in domestic leagues. The typical player who makes it is one who got a NCAA scholarship after being spotted playing for their National Team in an underage (usually U19s) International tournament.

On the rugby players - if they were serious about taking up American football, how come they dont first spend a season in one of the pro/semi-pro leagues in Europe e.g. GFL or ELF?

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123765362#Comment_123765362

On the rugby players - if they were serious about taking up American football, how come they dont first spend a season in one of the pro/semi-pro leagues in Europe e.g. GFL or ELF?

I think this would be fairly pointless and if you can get a spot on the IPP that is a thousand times better anyway and you'll learn far quicker.

Playing against semi pros will just mean their innate physical advantage will override a lot of skill deficiencies

csirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123765708#Comment_123765708

We'll have to agree to disagree. Nothing beats actually playing a sport for real in competitive games. I'd also question whether any rugby player would even make an immediate impact in the GFL. Again nothing to do with their athletic abilty - its hard to switch sports.

I think a couple of years of playing would dramatically improve their chances of long term success via the IPP.