The road to American football – how does Louis Rees-Zammit get to the NFL?

Louis Rees-Zammit is heading to America (Mike Egerton/PA)

Louis Rees-Zammit has announced he is swapping rugby union for a shot at the NFL.

Gloucester announced on Tuesday they are releasing the British and Irish Lions wing ahead of Wales making their squad selection for the Guinness Six Nations.

Rees-Zammit has confirmed he is joining the NFL’s International Player Pathway programme and, here, the PA news agency looks at the road to American football being started by the 22-year-old.

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The International Player Pathway has been in place since 2017, allowing select divisions to be allocated players. Last September it was announced that the NFL is increasing opportunities for international players from next season as part of a league-wide initiative that will see practice squads expanded to 17 players if a qualifying player is included. Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner and chair of the NFL international committee Joel Glazer said: “The opportunity for all 32 clubs to utilise an additional practice squad roster spot for an international player is a significant step forward in helping to identify, develop and enable more exciting talent from around the world to play in the NFL”.

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Damani Leech, the former chief operating officer of NFL International and current Denver Broncos president, said: “The International Player Pathway