Former England rugby international Chris Ashton has said that Louis Rees-Zammit faces a ‘massive challenge’ to adapt from Rugby Union to NFL.
Ashton made his own switch in disciplines from Rugby League to Rugby Union in his career, and speaking to Gambling Zone, he said he was shocked by the former Gloucester player's decision.
He said: “I was shocked when I heard the announcement that Rees-Zammit was going to the NFL. I completely understand his reasons for wanting to give it a try, especially at his age, because he is still so young. He can get out there and have a real go at it and, if it doesn’t happen for him then he knows that he will be able to come back to the game because there will be a queue of clubs wanting to sign him.
“If he waited a few years to make the move, it is less likely that it would happen for him. As you get a little older you become more risk averse, you become more settled in home life, so I think he is having a crack at it at the right time.
“It will be a massive challenge for him. I did something slightly similar when I went from Rugby League to Rugby Union. It took me years to get going in the sport and find my way in the game. Only because I had never played Rugby Union as a kid. I only played Rugby League, so I had no understanding of the game whatsoever.
"Both games are played with the same ball but that is where the similarities end. They are totally different games. It took me a long time in Rugby Union to not have to consciously think about the game; to play instinctively. It took me two years to get an understanding of it and only then could I put my personality and ability into the game.
“Louis is going into the NFL, and he won’t know what rugby skills are transferable and what aren’t. We know that he can run fast, and he’s good at rugby, but running fast in the NFL isn’t a stand-out quality because they have a lot of fast players. He is stepping into the unknown. It will be a really big challenge for him. I hope he succeeds and is able to follow his dream, but it is going to be [a] tough one.”
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