Exclusive: Kay hopes ‘stars are aligning’ for Rees-Zammit to succeed in NFL

Ben Kay says it is possible that the “stars are aligning” for Louis Rees-Zammit to become successful in his role in the NFL.

The Chiefs are the latest franchise to enjoy a dynasty in the sport after winning back-to-back titles with a dramatic overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers this year.

It has been reported that the Chiefs could use Rees-Zammit as part of the special teams as a return specialist as part of the new NFL format for kick-offs.

For the 2024 campaign, the kicking team’s kicker will continue to kick from the 35-yard line. But rather than be flanked by his team-mates, the rest of the kicking team will line up at their opponent’s 40-yard line, eliminating the traditional running head start.

No players can move until the kick returner touches the ball, or it hits the ground., giving the player catching the ball more space and time.

Former England international Kay believes that Rees-Zammit could benefit from the new law and adapt quickly to the sport.

When asked about Rees-Zammit’s switch, Kay told TNT Sports: “I don’t really see it to be any different to the rugby league players that have come into rugby union and vice versa over the years. It’s a lot harder for him.

“They obviously think enough of him to offer him a three-year deal on fairly decent money so there’s still a long way for him to go, he’s certainly not made it yet but he couldn’t have done any more at this stage. With the new rules that are coming into the NFL around the kick-off, that might actually suit him.

“For all his inexperience at playing NFL, coming up against people who have been playing American football their whole life, it’s a new thing that no-one is quite sure how it’s going to pan out yet.

“Coaches are in favour of it to add a new dimension to the game where there are more opportunities to run back the kicks which have become sort of a dull point in the game. That was his USP in rugby, his ability to counter-attack from deep and making tries from a long way out.

“Maybe the stars are aligning and he might get a couple of opportunities early on to prove himself and then you never know but rightly so, people have said how difficult it is going to be for him to make it.

“I know he’s fully aware of that and I’m sure if he doesn’t make it in the NFL, he’ll be welcomed back into rugby with open arms.”

NFL UK general manager Henry Hodgson also recently claimed that the

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Rees-Zammit ‘wants to be a superstar’ – Gatland wishes Wales star well after NFL switch

With Rees-Zammit signing a deal with the champions, there could be a perception that more rugby stars could look to make the same switch in the future.

However, Kay doesn’t believe there is likely to be a huge exodus of promising talents heading abroad to join the NFL and said Rees-Zammit’s situation can only help attract more fans to rugby.

“I think it’s good for the game of rugby,” he added. “We all know that the goal is to crack the American market which is why there’s a World Cup due to be happening there, because everyone wants to open up that American market.

“The crossover and people hearing about this young Welsh guy that came from rugby only helps rugby I think. There’s not going to be a raft of players suddenly going because it is so difficult and you need to be such an elite athlete to make it into the International Player Pathway (IPP) in the first place but I can’t see any downsides [to him going to the NFL].

“You lose one player and if you’re Welsh you’ll be upset because he’s quality, but the PR angle for rugby is equally as good an angle for American football because we’ll have a few more Welsh eyeballs on it, a few more rugby eyeballs on it to see how Louis Rees-Zammit is doing.”

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