Welsh international Louis Rees-Zammit, one of the world's most exciting wingers, will leave rugby to pursue his dream of playing in the NRL.
22-year-old Reece-Zammit has accepted an invitation to join the NRL's international player pathway, his English club Gloucester said on Tuesday.
A few minutes later, Wales announced their expanded squad for the upcoming Six Nations Championship and Reece-Zammit was not in it.
“I have had the incredible honor of playing rugby for my country, something I have never taken for granted, as a proud Welshman,” Rhys-Zammit said. “However, I think this is the right time for me to pursue another professional goal which is to play American football in the United States. These opportunities don’t come along often.”
Gloucester said Reece-Zammit will leave for Florida this week to start the International Player Pathway Programme.
Gloucester chief executive Alex Brown said: “While we are naturally sad to see him leave, ultimately we are unable to dissuade him from taking up an opportunity of this magnitude with the AFL.”
Rhys-Zammit made his debut for Wales in 2020, played in last year's World Cup and – at the age of 20 – was in the British and Irish Lions' 2021 squad for the tour of South Africa.
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