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Former rugby union star Louis Rees-Zammit faces a possible transfer or months of reserve team training after missing out on a place in the Kansas City Chiefs’ final squad for the 2024 NFL season.
The former Wales international was training with last season’s Super Bowl winners after his surprise decision earlier this year to quit rugby and pursue a more lucrative career in American football.
But the former tight end didn’t do enough in the Chiefs’ three preseason games to earn a spot on their 53-man roster, meaning he will now be placed in the NFL’s reserve system known as “waivers.”
This means that another team in the franchise has the opportunity to recruit Rees-Zammit.
And while no one wants to take a chance on the speed merchant, he has also been offered the chance to continue playing on the Chiefs’ practice squad, giving him a valuable opportunity to continue his adaptation to the sport.
The Chiefs are allowed to call up two players from their practice squad each game, meaning he could still make a competitive appearance alongside Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and Marquise Brown.
Rees-Zammit’s omission comes after the player shone at a training camp for aspiring overseas NFL players, earning him a draft contract with the Chiefs.
After being drafted, he also made appearances in all three of Texas’ preseason games, playing a variety of positions as the Chiefs looked to determine where he could fit into their plans.
On Tuesday, NFL team owners also voted to allow private equity investments in sports for the first time.
The landmark move, which will allow certain companies to own up to 10% of a league, could see billions of dollars in new funding flow into the league.
Until now, franchises have tended to be owned and operated by wealthy individuals or family businesses, meaning the league’s valuations and economics have been somewhat opaque until a deal takes place.
The last team to be sold was the Washington Commanders, who were bought by an American investment group led by American investor Josh Harris for $6 billion (then £4.8 billion).
