Louis Rees-Zammit a signé avec les Kansas City Chiefs : c’est quoi la suite ?
Louis Rees-Zammit (23 ans, 32 sélections), ex-futur espoir du Pays de Galles pour la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2027 en Australie, a fait un pas de plus vers la réalisation de son rêve de participer à la NFL en signant un contrat de trois ans avec les champions du Super Bowl, les Kansas City Chiefs.
Rees-Zammit est-il officiellement un joueur de la NFL ?
Pas encore, mais c’est maintenant que les choses sérieuses commencent. Après avoir laissé une impression positive dans le cadre du programme IPP (International Player Pathway) de la NFL, l’ancien ailier gallois a décroché une place dans l’équipe d’entraînement des Chiefs. Maintenant, il doit prouver qu’il mérite d’être inclus dans leur liste active de 53 joueurs avant le début de la nouvelle saison le 5 septembre. Même s’il n’est pas choisi, les règles permettent à un joueur international d’être sélectionné jusqu’à trois fois au cours de la saison.
Quel sera son poste ?
Il est encore trop tôt pour le déterminer avec certitude, mais il a plusieurs options à sa disposition : devenir running back, wide receiver, une combinaison des deux, ou se spécialiser comme kick returner. Cette dernière option semble être sa meilleure opportunité d’accéder à la NFL, du moins dans un premier temps. Les changements de règles prévus pour la prochaine saison visent à augmenter le nombre de retours de coups de pied, et c’est là que les compétences instinctives de course de Rees-Zammit, son aptitude à repérer les failles dans la défense, et ses capacités athlétiques seront le mieux mises en valeur. En dehors des différences telles que la présence de bloqueurs et l’obligation de porter un équipement de protection, ce poste le rapprochera le plus du rugby sur un terrain de football US.
Quelles sont les chances de réussite ?
Même avec les aptitudes physiques impressionnantes de Rees-Zammit, percer dans la NFL sera extrêmement difficile. Sa vitesse sur 40 yards, son agilité, et ses compétences en matière de réception sont indéniables, mais il est en compétition avec des athlètes qui ont été formés dans ce sport depuis leur enfance. Les instincts acquis par une exposition précoce au football américain lui manqueront, et il devra surmonter des défis tels que l’apprentissage des schémas de jeu, des règles, l’adaptation à un ballon de taille différente, et l’assimilation à une nouvelle culture sportive. Changer de code, entre le rugby à XIII et à XV, est déjà un défi en soi ; s’adapter à un tout nouveau sport représente un défi supplémentaire de taille.
Quels sont les autres joueurs de rugby à XV qui ont réussi ?
Personne, vraiment. Christian Wade est l’exemple le plus médiatisé de l’IPP, ayant été recruté par les Buffalo Bills en 2019. Malgré un début impressionnant marqué par un touchdown de 70 yards lors d’un match de pré-saison, il n’a jamais intégré la liste active et est retourné au rugby à XV en 2022 en rejoignant le Racing 92. D’autres joueurs, tels que Hayden Smith, originaire d’Australie, et Daniel Adongo du Kenya, ont également tenté leur chance en NFL, mais leur expérience s’est limitée à quelques apparitions. Si Rees-Zammit réussit, il deviendra donc le premier véritable succès de cette transition.
Que se passera-t-il si la greffe ne prend pas ?
Le passage en NFL représente une opportunité gagnant-gagnant pour l’ancienne vedette des Lions et de Gloucester. S’il réussit avec les Chiefs, il deviendra une superstar du sport britannique. Au pire, même s’il ne perce pas, il pourra retourner au rugby en sachant que les clubs seront nombreux à vouloir recruter un finisseur qui a inscrit 14 essais en 32 sélections avec le Pays de Galles. De plus, s’il honore son contrat avec les Chiefs jusqu’au bout, il n’aura que 26 ans.
Comments on RugbyPass
I reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
1 Go to commentsHaha did he always say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
42 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
122 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
6 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
122 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
42 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
6 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
122 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
42 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
2 Go to comments