Louis Rees-Zammit Bio
Louis Rees-Zammit (born 2 February 2001) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a winger for Prem Rugby side Bristol Bears. He began his senior career with Gloucester in 2018 and quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in British rugby, representing Wales and the British & Irish Lions before the age of twenty-one. In 2024, he made a high-profile switch to American football through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, before returning to rugby union eighteen months later.
Standing 188 cm tall and weighing around 101 kg, Rees-Zammit is widely recognised for his exceptional speed, footwork, and try-scoring instinct. After brief stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars, he announced his return to rugby in July 2025 and joined Bristol Bears the following month.
Early Life and Background
Louis Rees-Zammit was born in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, on 2 February 2001. His paternal grandfather emigrated from Malta, giving the family a mixed Welsh-Maltese heritage. Both of his parents were athletes, and sport played a central role in his upbringing. His brother went on to play rugby union for Llandaff RFC, while his uncle Paul Rees played as a full-back for Cardiff RFC, Pontypool RFC, and the Wales B team.
His father Joe played American football for the Cardiff Bay Tigers and introduced Louis to the NFL at a young age. The family supported the Washington Redskins (now Washington Commanders), and his childhood favourite NFL player was wide receiver DeSean Jackson. This early exposure to American football would later influence his decision to pursue a place in the NFL.
Rees-Zammit attended The Cathedral School, Llandaff, where he played rugby and developed his athletic base. He later moved on to Hartpury College, the academy linked to Gloucester Rugby, where he continued to sharpen his skills in the AASE Championship and won consecutive trophies with the Gloucester youth setup.
Path to American Football
On 16 January 2024, Louis Rees-Zammit announced that he would retire from rugby union to pursue a career in American football through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program (IPPP). His training took place at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, with a pro day held on 20 March 2024. He was already regarded as one of the fastest athletes in professional sport, having recorded a top speed of 24.2 miles per hour during a rugby match.
At the IPPP pro day, Rees-Zammit ran the 40-yard dash in 4.50 and 4.43 seconds, times he later described as disappointing. He has compared his playing style to NFL stars Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers, crediting his rugby background for his balance, vision, and finishing ability around the try line.
Louis Rees-Zammit Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Louis Rees-Zammit debuted for the Gloucester senior team during the 2018–2019 season, becoming the club’s youngest ever English Premiership player at 18 years and 70 days. He was also Gloucester’s youngest European player and youngest European try scorer in the pool stage of the Champions Cup during that debut campaign.
In December 2019, he scored two tries against Worcester Warriors and later that month became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in the Premiership, earning the Premiership Player of the Month award. He signed his first professional contract with Gloucester on 13 January 2020 and ended his debut season with fifteen appearances and ten Premiership tries, collecting Gloucester’s young player of the year award for 2019–2020.
Gloucester Breakthrough (2020–2023)
Rees-Zammit made his senior international debut for Wales off the bench against France at the Stade de France in October 2020 and scored his first test try against Georgia on 21 November 2020. During the 2021 Six Nations Championship, he scored the match-winning try against Scotland, was named man of the match, and helped Wales claim the title. He also won the Try of the Championship award and was nominated for the World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year.
On 6 May 2021, at 20 years and 93 days, he was named in the British & Irish Lions squad for the tour of South Africa, becoming the youngest Lions player selected since 1959. He scored three tries in four appearances on tour, including tries against the provincial Lions, Sharks, and Stormers. Back at Gloucester, he continued to feature prominently through the 2022–2023 season despite an ankle injury that kept him out for eight weeks.
NFL Stint (2024–2025)
On 29 March 2024, Rees-Zammit signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a running back. He made his NFL preseason debut on 11 August 2024 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, rushing six times for 22 yards and catching one pass for three yards. After three preseason appearances, he was not included in the Chiefs’ final 53-man roster and became a free agent on 28 August 2024.
The same day, he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad as a wide receiver, wearing jersey number 84. He was re-signed to the Jaguars’ active roster on 17 February 2025, before being moved to the exempt/international player list at the end of April 2025. On 31 July 2025, citing a desire not to waste his talent, he announced his return to rugby union after an eighteen-month NFL stint.
Bristol Bears Era (2025–Present)
Louis Rees-Zammit signed for Prem Rugby side Bristol Bears in August 2025 ahead of the 2025–26 season, with director of rugby Pat Lam confirming his debut against Sale. He marked his return with a try in a 42–24 victory over Leicester Tigers, instantly reigniting his reputation as a finisher at the highest level of English club rugby.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rees-Zammit combines genuine top-end pace with the footwork and spatial awareness learned in rugby union. His preferred wide-receiver position in the NFL suited his size, strength, and ability to break tackles in space. In rugby, his acceleration, aerial ability, and instinctive finishing make him a constant threat on the wing.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments include his match-winning try against Scotland in the 2021 Six Nations, his three-try contribution to the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa, and his five tries in five appearances at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. By the time he left Gloucester, he had made 77 club appearances and scored 210 points.
Louis Rees-Zammit Career Wins
Across his rugby career, Louis Rees-Zammit has accumulated notable try-scoring achievements at club, international, and Lions level. His switch to the NFL added a unique chapter to his sporting resume, even though he did not secure a final roster spot during his eighteen-month American football journey.
Premiership and European Highlights
Rees-Zammit scored ten Premiership tries and three European Champions Cup tries in his debut 2019–2020 season at Gloucester. He continued to feature regularly for Gloucester through the 2022–2023 Premiership Rugby season, registering four league tries and one Champions Cup try despite missing eight weeks with an ankle injury.
International and Lions Performances
At international level, Rees-Zammit scored 14 tries for Wales, including five at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He added three tries in four appearances on the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa, helping cement his reputation as one of the most exciting wingers in the game.
Louis Rees-Zammit Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Louis Rees-Zammit comes from a sporting family with strong rugby roots. His brother played for Llandaff RFC, while his uncle Paul Rees featured for Cardiff RFC, Pontypool RFC, and the Wales B team. His father Joe played American football for the Cardiff Bay Tigers, a connection that ultimately shaped Louis’s decision to pursue the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.
Personal Life
Rees-Zammit previously dated social-media influencer and YouTube content creator Saffron Barker, though Barker announced in March 2024 that the relationship had ended. In 2021, he became the official patron of the British charity Sporting Minds UK and carried out sponsorship work for Vodafone during the 2021 Lions tour of South Africa.
2025 Season Performance
Louis Rees-Zammit’s 2025 began with an NFL chapter still in motion, as the Jacksonville Jaguars re-signed him to the active roster in February before placing him on the exempt/international player list in late April. On 31 July 2025, he announced his return to rugby union, ending an eighteen-month pursuit of a career in American football.
He quickly joined Bristol Bears ahead of the 2025–26 Premiership Rugby season and scored on his league debut in a 42–24 win over Leicester Tigers. The early form suggests a smooth transition back to rugby’s demands, with Pat Lam and the Bristol coaching staff expected to build their attacking shape around his pace and finishing ability.
Looking ahead, Rees-Zammit’s primary objectives are to re-establish himself in the Wales national squad and contribute to Bristol Bears’ push for silverware in the Premiership and European competitions. His unique NFL experience has added another dimension to his game, and his return has already energised fans across British rugby.