Gloucester flyer Christian Wade believes American football hopeful Louis Rees-Zammit needs to master the fluency of his new sports code if he wants to succeed in the NFL.

It was confirmed in January that Rees-Zammit was heading to the United States to join the NFL International Player Pathway (IPP), which gives elite athletes from around the world the chance to earn a spot on an NFL roster and increase the number of international players in the league.

After impressing during the IPP, former Wales and Gloucester wing Rees-Zammit joined the Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs in March on a three-year contract but, after failing to make their 53-man NFL roster recently, he was picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars to join their practice squad.

Wade left former Premiership outfit Wasps towards the end of 2018 in a bid to launch his American Football career and like Rees Zammit, he also joined via the NFL’s IPP programme.

Wade made the switch to the NFL in 2018 and spent four years with the Buffalo Bills but only featured in their practice squad during that time.

The 33-year-old later returned to rugby union with Racing 92 and spent two seasons with the Parisian outfit before returning to the English game with Gloucester where.

He also won one England cap and represented the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia in 2013. Wade gave Rees-Zammit some advice as he looks to continue his NFL career with the Jaguars.

‘He is an exceptional athlete’

“I think he is an exceptional athlete and when he first burst on to the scene as a teenager I thought he was definitely going to be a big star,” he told reporters at an event by Viagogo to promote this month’s upcoming NFL games in London.

Gloucester boss hails ‘good bloke’ Christian Wade after early ‘grace period’ back in the Premiership

“But the thing is, in America everyone is an exceptional athlete, so for him to stand out he needs to show that he understands the sport and has ‘game speed’.

“It’s one thing to be able to run fast but the amount of information you have to take in pre-snap and while the play is unfolding, that’s the part that slows you down. Having to think rather just go.

“That’s the challenge that I faced. Trying to eradicate that split-second hesitation before moving that can make all the difference and I think I saw a little of that in Louis’s pre-season games. I recognised myself a bit.

‘Do as much analysis as possible’

“So that’s where he will have to work hard. Do as much analysis as possible, watch the videos and get the playbook down and make those moves quicker.”

Wade said he has spoken to Rees-Zammit since the young speedster made the decision to switch codes from rugby to the NFL. He said they are due anoter catch-up.

“I haven’t spoken to him a lot and I understand because there’s so much learning to do,” he added.

“Even when I went over there I didn’t speak to my parents for weeks sometimes, friends, and so on and so forth. “It’s been, kind of, back and forth on messages every so often and I’m due a catch-up with him soon.”

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