Wales boss Warren Gatland has 'no idea' if 'freak' Louis Rees-Zammit will make it in the NFL after rugby switch

Warren Gatland says Louis Rees-Zammit’s decision to quit rugby union to pursue his dream of becoming an NFL player came as a “shock” and that he has “no idea” whether the winger will successfully switch sports.

The Wales boss described the 22-year-old as a “freak” athlete and hopes the move pays off, but pointed to the fact that there is not a strong track record of rugby players becoming established in American football.

Gatland said he only found out Rees-Zammit was leaving rugby to pursue an NFL career an hour before he announced his Six Nations squad.

Describing the past few days as a “rollercoaster” to prove there is “never a dull moment in Welsh rugby”, the New Zealander assessed the talented winger’s chances of succeeding in the USA.

“No idea. There aren’t a lot of people who make it in the NFL who haven’t been brought up with the game and played it at a young age,” Gatland said.

“There is probably not a lot of difference with rugby league players [trying to play union]. Unless you have been brought up playing union, some are able to make it, but very few.

“So it is going to be a challenge for him, but good luck to him. We saw [Racing 92 wing] Christian Wade do it, and if you look at rugby league, there was Jarryd Hayne from Australia who had a few games but wasn’t really able to crack it.

“Christian got quite close to doing it. He was a bit older, though. Louis sees it as an opportunity at his age, and if he doesn’t take that chance now it probably won’t come around again.

“We are disappointed to lose a talent like him, but we’ve just got to take that on the chin, move on and focus on the rest of the squad.

“The last thing I can do is dwell on losing him, because the focus has got to be on preparing the squad for the first game.”

Rees-Zammit insists he has not retired from rugby union and Gatland will leave the door open for him, if the move does not work out.

“It’s a little bit of a shock. I wished him all the best. I’ve always been a great believer in players taking those opportunities that are presented to them,” the Wales head coach said.

“I said if it doesn’t work out, what are your next steps? He said he would come back to rugby. There is never a dull moment in Welsh rugby.

“It has been a bit of a rollercoaster. From my point of view, I want to wish Louis all the best, I honestly hope it works out for him”.

Rees-Zammit will head out to Florida next week as he starts his attempt to be picked up by an NFL franchise ahead of next season.

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