Louis Rees-Zammit phone call turns rugby hopeful's career upside down (original) (raw)

An up-and-coming American football player is following in the footsteps of Louis Rees-Zammit in a bid to make it in the NFL.

Former Saracens youngster Rafael Blakstad is now part of the NFL Academy, and is the latest in the new generation of aspiring athletes who will be facing Californian high school De La Salle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday evening.

NFL brings the fixture to the English capital in the same week as the 2024 London Games, which will see three matches played on British soil. New York Jets faced Minnesota Vikings last weekend, with the latter winning 23-17. And in the final two match days, Jaguars will play Chicago Bears this Sunday, with New England Patriots and Jaguars in action the following week.

Hailing from London, Blakstad had been playing for the Saracens academy before making the switch to American football. The young man has explained how he came across the sport, and how a phone call from Welshman Rees-Zammit changed everything.

"It was completely by chance and coincidence," explained Blakstad to Sky Sports. "I actually came to Loughborough for an open day for rugby. I played for Saracens and was an England Academy player for them, so Loughborough is one of the best rugby schools and I wanted to come here for union.

"I actually happened to get lost and I bumped into Lamonte Wilson and was asking where something was, he then asked 'are you playing American football?'

"That kind of sparked this switch. I came down for a session or two and then one evening I was unsuspecting at home and got a call from Louis Rees-Zammit, which was mind-boggling.

"He was literally one of my favourite rugby players and achieved so much so young in his career. Obviously I'd heard about his move across and things like that and our head coach Steve Hagen was out there coaching for the IPP. Being able to speak to him for a good 15/20 minutes was great, just to ask him about it because I was kind of on the fence about making the switch because rugby was going so well.

"Essentially there were similarities between both of us. He was obviously a lot higher level than me, but in terms of making that switch and going back to square one.

"But ultimately the opportunities are infinite, and speaking to him I decide 'yes, that is definitely something I want to do' and the rest is history.

"He was telling me that if he had the opportunity to try and do the Academy when he was my age, even if he knew he was going to achieve all the things he would have later on in rugby, he still would given it all up.

"Hearing that from one of your idols, I just realised I couldn't miss this opportunity because this is clearly such a big thing, and if he's willing to give up all the things he's achieved to give it a go and see if it can work, then why shouldn't I?"

Based at Loughborough University, the NFL Academy is a global initiative that supplies young athletes with both professional American football training and full-time high school education.

After previously signing with the Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs, Rees-Zammit was released and he now plies his trade for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and is a member of their 17-player practice squad. The 23-year-old is expected to be with his Jags team-mates this weekend when they take on the Bears.

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