The National Football League has a new kickoff rule this season, and the Kansas City Chiefs appear ready this early with their latest prospect, who comes from a place nobody expected.
Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz said that professional rugby player Louis Rees-Zammit is set to sign a deal with back-to-back Super Bowl champions.
"Rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit will be signing with the #Chiefs on Friday," per sources.
"After working out and impressing Kansas City's staff earlier this week, they have agreed on terms. I'm told Rees-Zammit will be playing RB/WR."
Read more: NFL Rule Changes 2024 - What Playing Rules Have Been Approved?
Rees-Zammit does not have American football experience, but the sport he mastered inspired the sports American households love.
The 23-year-old is a professional rugby player in Wales who left English club Gloucester. He made his debut at the age of 19 in the 2019-2020 season and was awarded Gloucester's Young Player of the Year.
He is also part of the Wales national rugby team, having played 31 games and recording 70 points.
He played the wing position, the main task of which was to play the rugby union wing. They are usually the fastest and most elusive in all positions. They are also supposed to be bigger than anybody.
He announced his plan to join the NFL in January by joining the NFL International Player Pathway Program, which was created to globalize the sport and give aspirants an avenue to becoming NFL players.
"I have had the incredible honor of playing rugby for my country, which, as a proud Welshman, I've never taken for granted," he said in a statement after announcing his plan to join the NFL.
"However, I believe that this is the right time for me to realize another professional goal of playing American football in the US. Those opportunities don't come around very often."
His arrival could help the Chiefs take advantage of the new kickoff rule set by the league this week.
New kickoff rule and Rees-Zammit's possible role
The new kickoff rule was revised to revive the declining return rate and lower concussion incidences. The changes were inspired by the XFL and described as a "radical change" to make the game more exciting.
The return is where Rees-Zammit's rugby union experience comes in.
Under the new rule, the returning team can field up to two returners in the backfield.
The returners wait in the landing zone for the ball once the kicker kicks it. If the player catches it, they must return it. There will be no more fair catches.
Only the kicker and the returner are allowed to move, while the other guys stand in the 35-yard line, which is also called the set-up zone.
If the ball hits the landing zone and then rolls to the end zone, the kicker's team gets an advantage as the ball will be put in the 20-yard line.
With his weight and speed, Rees-Zammit should not have any trouble navigating through the opponent's defensive line.
His experience should make him a catch for the Kansas City Chief.
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