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This will be Chiefs SURE Game Changer! Could Louis Rees-Zammit play with Travis Kelce next season? Wales rugby star ‘to visit the Kansas City Chiefs this week’ ahead of Patrick Mahomes and co’s quest for Super Bowl three-peat
Louis Rees-Zammit is reportedly set to visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday as the Wales rugby star continues his bid to become an NFL player.
The Welshman is one of the more high-profile names in the International Player Pathway Program after shocking the rugby world when he announced he was leaving the sport to pursue a career in the NFL.
The 23-year-old, who has 32 caps for Wales, participated in an International Pathways Players Pro Day, at the University of South Florida last week but claimed he was disappointed in his performance in front of NFL team scouts.
Despite his own dissatisfaction, Rees-Zammit clearly impressed scouts as he has already garnered a lot of interest, including from the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Rees-Zammit could bolster Patrick Mahomes’ offense as the Chiefs look to complete a historic three-peat with NFL insider Ian Rapoport reporting that the Welshman will visit Kansas City on Tuesday.
Rees-Zammit, who is said to be trying out for a role as a running back, wide receiver or returner, will also visit with the Denver Broncos, according to the report.
The two AFC West rivals aren’t the only teams to host the former rugby star with Rees-Zammit having traveled to New York and Cleveland last week.
The former Gloucester winger is said to have visited the Jets and the Browns amid his NFL quest.
It comes after the winger recorded a lightning quick time 4.44 seconds in his 40-yard sprint at the IPPP Pro Day last Wednesday.
Just 11 players since 2013 have run a sub-4.30 second 40-yard-dash at the NFL Combine.
Rees-Zammit, a former British and Irish Lion, would have ranked inside the top 30 fastest draft prospects at the NFL draft Combine this year.
Rees-Zammit, who is known for his blistering pace on the rugby field, admitted though, according to NFL reporter Rob Maaddi, that he was unimpressed with how he performed on the day.
‘Catching kickoffs, catch and kick receipts, punt receipts, there’s a lot of transferable skills, and I think running back shows up probably best, getting the ball in my hand early, being able to pick a gap, being able to be aware of the surroundings,’ Rees-Zammit said to Maaddi of the Associated Press.
‘A bit disappointed in my 40,’ the Wales international said on his performance on Wednesday. ‘Last week, I was getting some really good times. I was getting low 4.3s, high 4.2s. So it is what it is. It’s just what happens on the day. But I know I can run that fast.
‘I’m not trying to make excuses or anything, but I know what I can do and I’m happy with the day and how the day went.’
Speaking more on his experiences in the IPPP, the ex-Wales international told Mail Sport: ‘The amount we’ve learnt – on and off the field – has been unbelievable the change is mad.’
Despite that, he is remaining focused on performing each day, claiming that he was trying not to look too far into the future.
‘That’s not even in my mind… if I had any doubt in my head I wouldn’t do this,’ he said.
‘You have to believe in yourself and you have to have full confidence in your ability.’