The Welshman is back in the USA and is hoping to enjoy a breakthrough season with the Jacksonville Jaguars
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Louis Rees-Zammit soaks up the sun while water-skiing in Florida
Louis Rees-Zammit is back in Florida and already making the most of both the Jacksonville Jaguars’ pre-season and the Sunshine State’s lifestyle. The Welshman, who swapped rugby union for a shot at the NFL, has returned to the United States after spending several months back home in the UK with friends and family.
Now fully focused on the upcoming NFL season, Rees-Zammit has joined his Jaguars teammates for pre-season training. But away from the practice field, the 23-year-old has also been enjoying some downtime, posting videos of himself water-skiing and soaking up the Florida sunshine.
In one social media clip, the former rugby star showcased his balance and coordination in style. As he skied across the water, a friend tossed him a canned drink. Rees-Zammit caught it mid-air, took a swig, and continued skiing.
Not long after sipping the drink, however, the former Wales rugby star stacks it into the water. He posted another photo on his social media account with his brother, Taylor, fellow IPP graduate and former Jaguars player Patrick Murtagh and Travis Clayton, an English offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills.
Rees-Zammit's new girlfriend, Drew Knotts, posted her own photos on the boat on social media. The group were at New Smyrna Beach, a Florida city south of Daytona Beach.
Rees-Zammit shared Knotts' photo of the cocktail cans to his own Instagram account, with the pair sharing cans of 'Surfside' cocktails. The pair's relationship was confirmed last month, which you can read more about here.
Louis Rees-Zammit's girlfriend, Drew Knotts, posted a photo on the boat drinking a can
While the off-field fun grabbed fans' attention online, Rees-Zammit has also been back in the thick of things at training. Recent footage released by the Jaguars shows him catching passes from starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence as the squad ramps up preparations at the Miller Electric Center.
Rees-Zammit had previously taken part in the team’s voluntary off-season workouts in April, signalling his ongoing commitment to making it in the NFL after a steep learning curve during his first year. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
On Thursday, the Jaguars released their pre-season schedule, outlining three games in August against the Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, and Miami Dolphins. These fixtures represent a major opportunity for Rees-Zammit to prove himself in competitive action.
Last year, the Welsh speedster briefly joined the Kansas City Chiefs and featured in their pre-season games, gaining valuable experience at elite level despite being released before the regular season.
He later signed with the Jaguars as part of their practice squad, where he remained for the rest of the 2023/24 campaign. While he was eligible to be promoted to the main roster, that opportunity never came.
With the Jaguars enduring a disappointing season, the squad was overhauled at its conclusion. Rees-Zammit was briefly released but was re-signed shortly after, this time to the active roster — a promising step in his NFL journey.
However, in late April, the Jaguars reclassified him as an International Player Pathway (IPP) athlete. This designation gives international players a unique path into the league but also places certain limitations on their eligibility and opportunities.
Rees-Zammit now faces added competition. The Jaguars have recently signed two undrafted wide receivers — the same position he’s working to master — adding to the crowded room of around 90 players currently on the roster.
By the end of August, that number will be slashed to 53 players on the active roster and 17 on the practice squad. One of those practice squad spots is reserved for an IPP player — the route Rees-Zammit is currently aligned with.
He was previously competing with fellow IPP athlete Patrick Murtagh for that international slot, but Murtagh was cut by the Jaguars last week, likely clearing the way for Rees-Zammit to reclaim the role.
NFL analyst and former player Phoebe Schecter told WalesOnline earlier this year that the IPP designation is only available for a maximum of two years. If Rees-Zammit takes that spot again this season, 2025/26 would be his final year of IPP eligibility.
That means time is ticking for the Welshman to establish himself as a regular NFL player. If not promoted beyond the IPP designation this season or next, he will need to compete for a standard roster spot like any other domestic player.
For now, though, Rees-Zammit appears focused, determined, and enjoying the ride — both on the field and out on the water.