Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit welcomes the chance to play in a new position with a new NFL team

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Louis Rees-Zammit always imagined himself as an NFL receiver.

The Welsh rugby star changed teams last week, moving from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and has now changed positions as well. He spent five months working as a running back with the two-time defending Super Bowl champions.

But he is embracing his new role, which he believes suits him better.

“I think playing receiver is a lot better because of my size and strength,” Rees-Zammit said after Wednesday’s practice. “I think that’s probably a position that fits me a lot better. It was a good experiment trying to play running back for the Chiefs, but I think we all realized I was probably going to end up being a receiver.

“And here we are today. I love coaching as a receiver and I love learning the role and I’m going to keep getting better.”

Kansas City waived Rees-Zammit in final cuts last week, letting him go after he rushed six times for 22 yards and caught one pass for 3 yards in the preseason. He quickly landed on Jacksonville’s practice squad.

NFL teams can have up to 16 players on their practice squad. They get an additional spot for one player from the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, which was designed to give players from other countries a chance. Practice squad players work the same amount of time as players on the 53-man roster, but they don’t get paid as much and would have to be promoted to the active roster to play in a game.

It’s a chance to continue training with the team while he waits for an injury to open up a roster spot. For Rees-Zammit, it’s a chance to get up to speed. After all, the 23-year-old has been one of the best wingers in rugby for years and is now trying to pursue his dream of playing football in the NFL.

“I would say it’s quite challenging,” he said. “The first football game I played was a month ago. It’s very challenging. I can feel it, but at the same time, this is my dream. I’m very determined to make this dream come true and try to get into this team.”

“That’s the goal for everyone: to try to get into the 53, and I’ll continue to learn the playbook. I think that’s probably the biggest thing now since I changed teams and playbooks. I need to try to learn it as quickly as possible to have a chance.”

After signing with Jacksonville, Rees-Zammit is expected to be in London for two NFL games in October. The Jaguars will play the Chicago Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 13 and then face the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 20.

He has never played at either stadium, but vividly remembers attending his first NFL game at Wembley in 2016. He watched Washington and Cincinnati play to a 27-27 tie.

“That was the first chance I had to go see a game,” he said. “My dad took me and my brother to see it. I was pretty young back then – I think I was 14 or 13. I loved it from the moment I saw my first game on TV, let alone watching it in real life.”

His father’s “first sporting love” was American football, and his team was the Washington Redskins, but making the jump across the Atlantic and into the NFL may not be something everyone in his country understands.

“Not a lot of people realize what I’m doing at home, like my friends and stuff,” he said. “They’re busy with their jobs and I’m busy with mine. It’s interesting. I think my family is the most proud of me.”

“They came to Kansas City and now they’re coming to Jacksonville to live. That shows how close my family is and I’m trying to make them proud as much as I can.”