Kansas City Chiefs explain reason for releasing Louis Rees-Zammit

American football champions Kansas City Chiefs have explained why they decided not to fight to include ex-Wales rugby international Louis Rees-Zammit on their practice squad after he was overlooked for a spot on their official 53-man roster for the new NFL season.

It emerged on Tuesday that the 2021 British and Irish Lions winger was surplus to roster requirement despite featuring in all three pre-season matches for Andy Reid's back-to-back SuperBowl title holders. There was an option to keep Rees-Zammit on their books over the autumn and winter as part of their practice squad. However, the 23-year-old instead opted to join the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad.

It was August 10 at Jacksonville when Rees-Zammit first donned the Kansas City Chiefs colours in an American football fixture and he has now returned to the EverBank Stadium franchise.

The Jaguars intriguingly have a week six, October 13 match versus Chicago Bears at the Tottenham Stadium and a week seven game on October 20 against the New England Patriots at Wembley and while Rees-Zammit currently isn’t part of the official 53-man roster who could play unless there is an injury vacancy, he is seen as a perfect recruit to hype up that visit to England.

It was last March, following his completion of the international player program, when Rees-Zammit was snapped up by Kansas less than three months after making his final rugby union appearance for Gloucester.

Kansas general manager Brett Veach has now spoken about the loss of Rees-Zammit to Jacksonville, highlighting what he needs to do to potentially crack the NFL code following his high profile crossover from rugby.

Asked if Kansas wanted him on their practice squad or if they had encouraged him to pursue other opportunities, Veach told an online media briefing: “Yeah, we kept it open [the practice squad]. We wanted the kid to really look at maybe some different opportunities as well.

“Pretty remarkable when you think about a player that doesn’t have any pro American football experience. No middle school, no high school, no big time college experience. We were kind of thinking about it going through camp: Imagine not having any sort of foundational background, just to be thrown in and be doing one-on-one pass pros with a Drue Tranquill or a Nick Bolton. I mean that’s pretty incredible.

“For him, it will be just finding out that exact position, running back, maybe a big slot receiver. Think he does have some potential as a returner. I’m not so sure he couldn’t be a kicker. I mean, he has an outstanding leg and with this new role, he can do some different things, provide some versatility.

“The Jacksonville thing and their relationship overseas, and what he brings to the table going overseas twice a year, that was probably something that interested him. But phenomenal kid, phenomenal worker.

“And again, just thinking back on the tremendous amount of progress he has made in a short amount of time, he will continue to grow and develop and he found a really good spot there in Jacksonville.”