Former Hartpury College student and rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit has accepted an invitation to join the National Football League (NFL) International Player Pathway (IPP), with the potential to secure a place on an NFL roster.
Gloucester Rugby agreed to release the 22-year-old former Level 3 Extended Diploma Sport (Rugby) student on Tuesday (16 January 2023) to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL. He’ll leave the UK for Florida this week to begin the programme.
Talking about his decision on Tuesday (16 January), Louis said: “Gloucester Rugby has been a huge part of my life. From the start at Hartpury College and my first professional contract with Gloucester in 2020, to my Wales and Lions caps; the club has been central to my development as a player, and I’m so grateful for their support.
“I will always be very proud of my time at Kingsholm and want to particularly thank the incredible fans who make the club so special. I have had the incredible honour of playing rugby for my country which, as a proud Welshman, I’ve never taken for granted. However, I believe that this is the right time for me to realise another professional goal of playing American football in the US. These opportunities don’t come around very often.”
Wayne Thompson, Junior Rugby Academy Manager at Hartpury College added: “It’s great to see Louis being given the opportunity to break into the NFL through the International Player Pathway. During his time at Hartpury and development through our Rugby Academy, it was clear he had the athletic potential to excel as an elite athlete. It will therefore be of great interest for us to follow his transition into the NFL pathway, for which we wish him all the success in the next chapter of his career.”
Hartpury Sport
Students at Hartpury University and Hartpury College have a strong track record of success in a variety of sports through its Sports Academy. Over 250 international athletes have developed their talents alongside their studies, supported by a professional environment and access to world-class facilities. The dual career pathway is a well trodden path with students supported to study qualifications including A-levels, a diploma or a degree around their training and competition schedules.
