Louis Rees-Zammit mentioned he’s “loving” the “nice” expertise of attempting to interrupt into the NFL after his swap from rugby union.
The 23-year-old has joined the NFL’s worldwide participant pathway (IPP) with the intention of securing a spot on an American soccer staff in 2024.
Rees-Zammit has moved to Florida and began the 10-week programme.
“My pursuit to be on the NFL is alive and I’m excited to see what the subsequent 10 weeks holds,” he instructed Scrum V.
The Wales and Gloucester wing shocked the rugby world in January when he introduced he would depart rugby union with rapid impact to pursue a profession within the NFL.
The extreme coaching programme has began and Rees-Zammit is hoping to impress NFL scouts in March, with the previous British and Irish Lion saying he has “10 weeks of pure, intense coaching” to see if his “dream can grow to be a actuality”.
Rees-Zammit has been coaching as a large receiver however has additionally been doing a little drills as a operating again.
“You mainly come right here and work the sport of soccer on and off the sphere, within the classroom and coaching six days every week,” mentioned Rees-Zammit, who backed the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs to win the Tremendous Bowl towards the San Francisco 49ers.
“You may have 10 weeks to be taught the sport and on the finish you’ve got a professional day.
“It’s a must to attempt to impress the scouts and it’s all the way down to the groups to resolve whether or not you’re adequate.”
Rees-Zammit says it was his “hardest resolution” of his life to make the transition and go away rugby however thinks it was the suitable time for him.
“It was at all times one thing I wished to do, since a younger age, and I believed it was the suitable resolution now,” he mentioned.
“I sat down with my household and went by means of every little thing and got here to the choice I wished to do it once I was nonetheless younger.
“If it really works out, I’ve 10 years to attempt to play the game I’ve liked rising up watching or I can come again to rugby and play the game I like taking part in.
“I’m excited to see what occurs and what the long run holds and now that I’m right here, I’m loving coaching.”
Rees-Zammit mentioned he went with the blessing of Wales head coach Warren Gatland.
“Gats was unbelievable with me,” mentioned Rees-Zammit.
“I defined the state of affairs and state of affairs for me and he was very supportive.
“He let me know and requested if it didn’t work what I’d be doing and I mentioned clearly I’d be coming again to rugby.”
Rees-Zammit mentioned it was an odd expertise watching the Six Nations match the place England defeated Wales 16-14 at Twickenham.
“I used to be jealous of the boys and it was in my thoughts that I used to be fairly gutted I didn’t play,” mentioned Rees-Zammit.
“The boys put a shift in and simply managed to lose, which was robust.”