Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Chiefs to sign rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit to play wide receiver and running back

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Justin Churchill | Last updated 3/27/24

This happens quite often in the NFL, more than you would think. A rugby player comes to the NFL or tries to, and tries to make a team. In this case, one has. Guys like Jordan Mailata on the Philadelphia Eagles have done it and been very successful in the process. The Kansas City Chiefs are now going to try it.

There have been rumors all week about a rugby star in Louis Rees-Zammit trying out for teams in hopes of converting from his previous sport to American football. A lot of people thought it was a long shot, but on Wednesday, the Chiefs made the latest "splashy" move of free agency.

According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to sign Rees-Zammit on Friday. He is expected to play wide receiver and running back.

#Chiefs make another FA move https://t.co/hCx59vQZjh
— Justin Churchill (@ChurchillAtoZ) March 27, 2024

Signing him right now doesn't mean he will be on the active roster for game days. We have no idea how this will work, at least not until we get to training camp. But, the Chiefs saw something they like.

What we do know is that rugby may be the only other sport involving a ball that is just as physical as football, if not more physical. Rugby players get tackled without pads on, to say the least.

Another way Rees-Zammit could make the roster is as a kick returner. With the new rules in place, which most seem to like, including Andy Reid, the Chiefs could use him in that aspect. It's also worth noting that Louis Rees-Zammit is an International Pathway Program player, and he won't count toward the Chiefs' 90-man roster or the 16-man practice squad roster.

This just made the Chiefs' offseason even more interesting.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: