Behind the scenes of Louis Rees-Zammit’s 10-week NFL bootcamp: Wales rugby star outlines his ‘hardest challenge’ as he learn the rules, hits the gym and runs his first routes following shock switch to football

Louis Rees-Zammit has opened up on the ‘hardest challenge’ he faces en route to the NFL as he is seen learning the rules and ropes of football following his shock switch from rugby.

The former Wales wing, who quit the sport on the eve of the Six Nations to join the International Player Pathway, is currently in Florida for a 10-week bootcamp.

The 23-year-old is bidding to join the NFL – a childhood dream – but first Rees-Zammit and his fellow recruits are undergoing a crash course in the sport.

He is seen leaving for the airport before learning to catch a football and run routes as a receiver. Rees-Zammit has also been working out in the gym and sitting in a classroom as coaches run through the rules of football.

In the clip, posted by NFL UK, the 23-year-old is wearing Gloucester and Wales training kit as he bids to ‘live his dream’. 

The former Wales star shocked the world of rugby when he quit to try his hand at football

Rees-Zammit has been adapting to his new world as he attempts to make it in a different sport

The 23-year-old, who has never played football before, is aiming to live out a childhood dream

‘I think the hardest challenge is probably that my body is not used to running full pace and then trying to stop immediately – I can definitely feel that in my legs at the minute but day-by-day I’m slowly getting used to it,’ Rees-Zammit said.

‘The theme “uncommon” that we’ve been using this year is very motivating for all of us because we’re all from different places in the world. We’ve never played American football before, we’re all different builds…’ 

‘We all push each other, we’re all accountable for each other and, at the end of the day, all of us want to play in the NFL. If we can help one of the boys do that it’s going to be extra special.’

Rees-Zammit’s dad played football in Europe but, for the former Wales wing, this camp represents his first taste of the sport. 

‘The first thought of being in the NFL was when I was a young boy but I knew I had to play rugby for a long time before that,’ he explained. 

‘I’ve played for Gloucester since I was 16 – without them I wouldn’t have done anything in rugby. I’ve played for my country, I’ve been to a World Cup, I’ve played for the (British and Irish) Lions. I’m very grateful for that and for allowing me this opportunity to come to the IPP program and try and live my dream.’

Rees-Zammit can be seen wearing the practice jersey of his former rugby club, Gloucester

The 23-year-old, a former wing for Wales, works on his catching skills as part of his bootcamp

‘We all push each other, we’re all accountable for each other,’ he said of his fellow recruits