Louis Rees-Zammit will return to Six Nations action with Wales this weekend with his girlfriend providing support
Louis Rees-Zammit and girlfriend Drew Knotts
Louis Rees-Zammit and girlfriend Drew Knotts relocated to Wales after he turned his back on the NFL
View 4 Images
Louis Rees-Zammit recently stepped back onto the Six Nations stage for the first time in nearly three years.
The Welsh flyer's return wasn't exactly a fairytale as Wales were thumped 47-8 by England in their opening match. Through the disappointment, he had the backing of his American girlfriend Drew Knotts, whom he met Stateside during his brief NFL adventure.
Unsurprisingly, Knotts isn't the first high-profile figure Rees-Zammit had dated over the years. Here, we take a look at the 25-year-old's relationship journey on both sides of the Atlantic.
Drew Knotts
Rees-Zammit is currently loved-up with his girlfriend Drew Knotts. The 27-year-old American influencer and ex-athlete has been spotted alongside him in glamorous Dubai snaps, capturing everything from desert escapades to intimate evening meals.
Knotts - who creates lifestyle and fashion content - has even relocated to Wales with her rugby star beau following his move to Bristol Bears. After making his comeback to rugby union, Rees-Zammit shared that she's keen to get stuck into learning about the sport whilst settling into her fresh surroundings.
Drew Knotts and Louis Rees-Zammit
(Image: Drew Knotts on Instagram)
View 4 Images
He explained: "She doesn't have a clue what rugby is! When she saw that kind of environment, she really wanted to watch me play rugby. It's something I can give her now, I can allow her to learn rugby, she'll learn a lot from my family, the rules and the crowd. She's really looking forward to it. It's going to be a big change for her."
He continued: "She's moving permanently. Depending on visas and stuff, there's a lot to do with getting over to America and vice versa. I experienced that first-hand. But she's obviously doing the opposite to what I did. I went over there, lived there But now she's coming back and living in Wales."
Break-up from Saffron Barker
Following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Rees-Zammit went public with his romance with YouTuber and ex-Strictly Come Dancing contestant Saffron Barker. The couple were photographed at a film premiere and caught sharing a kiss on a Cardiff night out.
Their whirlwind relationship saw Barker get Rees-Zammit's initials inked on her arm. Despite his transatlantic move to chase NFL glory, they insisted they were "a strong couple navigating a long-distance relationship".
Saffron Barker and Louis Rees-Zammit in a photo together prior to the news of their break-up
The pair split up in early 2024(Image: Instagram/ @saffronbarker)
View 4 Images
Yet after the rugby sensation attended an NFL trial, Barker announced their split in a public message, saying: "Hi everyone, I have so much exciting news to update you on and I promise to keep you all posted on that. For now though I wanted to address some of the questions regarding my relationship.
"Whilst I won't be going into any detail, I am no longer in a relationship. I am fully focused on my wellbeing, wonderful family and career. I want to thank all of the incredible people who have sent me messages of love and strength over the past few weeks."
Swimsuit model link
Though nothing was ever officially confirmed, Rees-Zammit previously acknowledged he was "open to a relationship" with Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Xandra Pohl.
The pair were photographed enjoying themselves at the Worlds of Fun amusement park in Kansas City back in May 2024, where they were captured shrieking together on a rollercoaster ride. Earlier that day, they'd been exploring the sights of Kansas.
Pohl earned her stripes as a Sports Illustrated rookie in 2024, looking sensational in a scarlet swimsuit for the publication's landmark 60th anniversary issue.
Man Utd legend's daughter
Before his relationship with Barker, Rees-Zammit was romantically involved with netball player Alicia Scholes - daughter of Manchester United icon Paul Scholes.
The former England international had tried persuading the rugby talent to play for England before he committed to Wales. Back in 2020, Scholes shared a snap of Rees-Zammit on Instagram with the caption: "The England debut can't be far off."
Alicia Scholes plays for London Pulse in the Netball Super League
Alicia Scholes previously dated the rugby star
View 4 Images
Although the 25-year-old was born in Wales, he qualified to play for England as he lived there and attended Hartpury College. However, he turned down the chance. Discussing the matter with the BBC, he revealed: "I used to date his daughter so it was a running joke. He always used to try to make me play for England but I wasn't having any of it."
Content Image
Content Image