Louis Rees-Zammit jets out to Dubai for warm-weather training as huge NFL decision imminent
Louis Rees-Zammit has jetted off to Dubai for a warm weather training camp ahead of his big announcement.
Posting to his Instagram story, Rees-Zammit could be seen getting stuck into the battle ropes on a sun-drenched beachfront in Dubai. In the next story, he could be seen on a jet ski outside the Burj Al Arab hotel.
The Welshman has been doing a lot of travelling during the off-season, having jetted off to Phuket in Thailand with his brother, and attending the Super Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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The former Wales rugby international is currently a free agent after his contract with Jacksonville Jaguars expired in January. Following that announcement, WalesOnline understood that Rees-Zammit and his team were 'figuring out' his next move.
Speaking to ITV as part of their coverage of Superbowl LIX, which saw the Philadelphia Eagles ease their way to a 40-22 win over the Chiefs in New Orleans, the former Gloucester star said: "Yeah, I'm looking for options.
"I think in the next week or so we'll make a decision on where I am next year. But this past year has been crazy. A crazy experience. Mentally and physically it's been tough, but it's a journey I've always wanted to be on so I'm loving it."
Despite his contract being left to expire, this is actually a very normal occurrence in American football. Nevertheless, Rees-Zammit is currently without a club, and a decision will have to be made on his next club, or even if he chooses to pursue American football any further.
He could simply re-sign with Jaguars ahead of next season, which begins in September, or he could be picked up by any other team, due to his free agent status.
Given that Rees-Zammit came through the International Player Pathway programme, there is a special extra space reserved for him on the 17-player practice squad, which is the space he took up last season, but didn't play.
However, American football athlete and expert told WalesOnline that you can only be selected as the designated IPP player for two years. So if he is selected as the IPP player again this season, once he has been picked up, the situation changes.
If he wanted to be selected again next year, Rees-Zammit would need to be signed to the main 53-man roster, or as one of the other 16 players on the practice squad as he would no longer be eligible to fill that role, having completed two years as the IPP player.
The first year has been one of learning for the Penarth-born man, but he will need to try and put his stamp on the game out there this season if he hopes to be selected for the 2026/2027 season. So it's imperative he signs for a team, and the announcement is expected in the not too distant future.
