Louis Rees-Zammit 'disappointed' with 40-yard-dash time
Louis Rees-Zammit has expressed disappointment at his 40-yard-dash time at the NFL Pro Day – the latest step in his journey through the 2024 International Player Pathway Program.
Despite already receiving offers from multiple NFL teams, the former Wales winger’s 40-yard dash time left him wanting more.
At the University of South Florida and in front of scouts from all 32 NFL franchises; Rees-Zammit recorded a 4.44-second dash – a time that apparently didn’t meet his own high expectations of the event.
Known for his remarkable speed on the rugby field, Rees-Zammit had achieved faster times in training, aiming for the 4.2s and 4.3s range.
“LRZ told me he was disappointed with his time in the 4.4s and said he’s run in the 4.2s and 4.3s,” reported Rob Maaddi, a senior NFL reporter for the Associated Press.
To contextualize Rees-Zammit’s performance, it’s worth noting that since 2013, only 11 players have managed a sub-4.30 second sprint at the NFL Combine. While 4.44 is good time, realistically the former Gloucester winger would have wanted to post that a time that put him among the sport’s elite, to give him a greater point of difference as he plays catch-up against athletes that have been playing the sport since childhood.
This Pro Day was part of the 23-year-old’s intensive 10-week crash course under the IPP, a program designed to integrate international talents into American football.
Rees-Zammit with a lightning fast 40m time of 4.44 seconds at the NFL IPP pro day 😮💨⚡️ pic.twitter.com/u4kDf0pzen
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 20, 2024
Since its launch in 2017, the initiative has seen some success, with participants like rugby league convert Jordan Mailata making an impact in the NFL.
Rees-Zammit – along with other rugby players such as Harry Mallinder, Darragh Leader, and George Smith – aim to follow in these footsteps, proving the potential of rugby talents in American football. Currently, 18 IPP athletes are on NFL rosters.
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Big empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
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10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
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5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
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2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
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4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
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5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
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