Rugby Union suffered an enormous loss with Louis Rees-Zammit quitting the game with the intention to pursue his dream within the NFL.
The 22-year-old is likely one of the finest gamers on the planet in addition to one of many important faces of the game, making his exit much more hurtful for everybody concerned with rugby union.
The Welshman introduced his choice to chase success in American soccer on Tuesday (January 16) as he turns into the most recent rugby star to strive their hand on the NFL.
READ MORE:10 sports activities stars who switched careers as lengthy jumper Greg Rutherford opts for bobsleigh
His assertion on social media learn: “I would like to take this opportunity to announce a significant career decision that I have taken after careful consideration.
“In a transfer that I’m extraordinarily enthusiastic about, I can verify that I can be becoming a member of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program (IPP) in pursuit of incomes a spot on an NFL roster within the United States for 2024.”
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Switching sports activities isn’t any straightforward toes contemplating there’s hardly ever been a sportsperson achieve two totally different sports activities however with Rees-Zammit’s try to attain simply that, Daily Star Sport takes a take a look at different huge identify athletes who’ve competed in numerous sports activities and simply how properly they fared.
Petr Cech
Football to ice hockey
(Image: NurPhoto through Getty Images)
The Chelsea legend moved onto the ice in 2019, becoming a member of Guildford Phoenix as a goaltender and nabbing man of the match on his debut. That identical yr, he re-joined the membership as their technical and efficiency adviser.
The 2012 Champions League winner left the membership in 2022 and now at present performs for Division 1 ice hockey aspect Oxford City Stars.
Michael Jordan
Basketball to baseball to basketball
(Image: EUGENE GARCIA/AFP through Getty Images)
The six-time NBA champion shocked the sports activities world in 1993 when he introduced his retirement from basketball – citing his father’s homicide three months prior as a cause for stepping away from the sport.
Just months later, he signed a Minor League Contract with the Chicago White Sox. Jordan – who was a childhood baseball fan – by no means performed for the MLB however performed within the decrease divisions of the game earlier than making a swift return to the NBA.
Freddie Flintoff
Cricket to boxing
(Image: PA)
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The 2005 Ashes hero retired from cricket in 2010, and made the change to boxing as he gained his first and solely battle which lasted simply 4 rounds. Despite a profitable starting to a brand new sporting profession for the Preston native, he wasn’t the most important fan of the sparring.
He later stated: “It was the sparring I hated. I used to go in the gym every day and just get beaten up.”
Usain Bolt
Athletics to soccer
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
The quickest man alive gained eight Olympic gold medals throughout his illustrious athletic profession which he resulted in 2017 as he stays the world document holder within the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4 × 100 metres relay.
A fervent Manchester United fan, Bolt surprisingly loved an eight-week trial at Aussie soccer membership Central Coast Mariners in 2017. Despite scoring two targets in a trial recreation, he wasn’t provided a contract on the finish of his trial interval.
Sir Chris Hoy
Cycling to motorsport
(Image: PA)
The former bicycle owner and six-time Olympic champion known as time on his stellar profession in 2013 as he ranks because the second most embellished Olympic bicycle owner of all time.
A love for motorsport meant Sir Chris Hoy competed in a lot of motorsport occasions after 2013, together with the Le Mans 24 Hours in addition to partnering ex-Formula One star Romain Grosjean on the 2015 Race of Champion within the Nations Cup.
Sir Ian Botham
Football to cricket
(Image: Getty Images)
‘Beefy’ is considered one of many biggest all-rounders within the historical past of cricket however previous to his legendary profession within the sport, he was as soon as a promising footballer who even took the sector for Scunthorpe United.
The look for the Football League aspect got here three years after making his Test debut in 1977 and only a yr earlier than the legendary efficiency within the 1981 Ashes sequence.a
Dame Sarah Storey
Swimming to biking
(Image: GETTY)
Dame Sarah Storey gained a whopping 28 Paralympic medals all through her sporting profession. While she initially competed as a swimmer with 5 Paralympic gold medals, she made the change to biking in 2005 after struggling with ear issues.
Despite the change, she continued to win at a shocking fee, attaining 12 Paralympic gold medals and continues to compete on the age of 46.
Paolo Maldini
Football to tennis
(Image: AFP through Getty Images)
The AC Milan legend is taken into account to be one of many biggest defenders of all time and after retiring from soccer in 2009 after 25 years with the Italian giants, it took Maldini eight years to make the change to tennis.
In 2017, he certified for the Aspria Tennis Cup in Milan alongside together with his doubles companion Stefano Landonio. However, the pair have been dismantled within the first spherical by Tomasz Bednarek and David Pel by a rating of 6–1, 6–1 in what was Maldini’s final tennis match.