Louis Rees-Zammit admits NFL training ‘easier’ than Wales’ brutal Rugby World Cup camp

Tampa, Florida, USA. 20th Mar, 2024. Louis Rees-Zammit, a top rugby player, takes a break after he does the three-cone drill during USF’s pro day at the Morsani Football Practice Facility/Indoor Performance Facility on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Tampa.

Louis Rees-Zammit admits he’s “never done anything as hard” as Wales’ preparations for the 2023 Rugby Word Cup in France.

That includes his transition into American football, which saw him get picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Warren Gatland’s pre-global tournament training camps have become famed for their brutality and Rees-Zammit was experiencing his first one.

The 23-year-old went on to make his World Cup debut, scoring five tries as Wales reached the quarter-finals before being ousted by Argentina.

He has since departed rugby, taking up gridiron and joining the NFL’s international pathway program.

Training block

Rees-Zammit took part in an intensive 10-week camp and is now set to begin pre-season at the Chiefs as he looks to make their 53-man roster.

However, the flyer, who is hoping to be a utility option in football that plays wide receiver, running back and kick returner, admitted that what he endured prior to the World Cup was utterly savage.

“I’ve never done anything as hard as I did in Turkey and Switzerland,” he told The Rugby Pod. “I don’t know what pre-season’s like for the NFL, but that is probably going to be one of the hardest things I ever do – a Rugby World Cup pre-season camp.”

Rees-Zammit then revealed the differences between the two types of training, with football’s anaerobic nature very much suiting the Welshman.

“The difference is it’s more explosive, you’re not doing long endurance testing and training. It’s all about explosive power and speed; short, sharp kind of stuff, so it’s perfect for me!” he said.

“I found it easier than the World Cup training camp because it suits me. I’m more explosive, I’m all about speed; short, sharp intervals as opposed to constantly running up and down the pitch.

“There is a massive difference and it very much suits me. I kind of knew that going into it, but it was a big grind for two-and-a-half months.

“There was a lot of classroom stuff because you’re obviously trying to catch up with boys who have been playing since they were eight years old.

“It was more the mental side of the game as opposed to the physical side of the game that I was trying to adapt to.”

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After his 10-week camp, Rees-Zammit took part in the pro day, which gave him an opportunity to impress the NFL scouts.

Although the speedster was not necessarily happy with his numbers, the ex-Gloucester star admitted that the occasion may have got to him.

Nerves

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous in my life. This is my dream. That day was pretty much going to determine what I do in my life,” he added.

“The 40-yard dash didn’t go as I would have liked. I was running high 4.2s, low 4.3s (in training) but I ran like 4.43.

“I’m more of a game speed kind of guy, I’m not a sprinter so I’ve never done track and field, I’ve never done athletics.

“I’m more about being able to run in a match, being able to weave and I think that’s basically what the NFL is going to allow me to do. I’m never going to be running in a straight line.

“I assume the coaches have picked up on that because my 40 wasn’t amazing.”