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Ex-rugby star Rees-Zammit to hold visits with Broncos, Chiefs

Former Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit will travel for visits at the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs this week, the NFL confirmed on Monday, after taking visits with the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets.

Rees-Zammit stunned rugby fans when he announced in January that he was leaving the sport to pursue a dream of playing in the NFL. On Friday, Rees-Zammit posted a 4.43 in his 40-yard dash at the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) pro day. He also achieved a 9ft 7in broad jump and 29-inch vertical jump.

This season marks the first time that each team will have a 17th roster spot on the practice squad specifically available for an international player. Teams also are permitted to elevate an international practice squad player to the active roster a maximum of three times throughout the season -- increasing opportunities for players to develop and get a chance to play.

Teams also receive one training camp roster exemption for a qualifying international player.

"It's always been on my mind," Rees-Zammit said at Friday's pro day.

"My dad has been a massive role model to me because he brought me up loving the sport. He played the sport when he was younger so it's quite easy to love the game because I've been watching it from such a young age. So, it's always been in the back of my head, but it's just amazing to finally do it now."

Rees-Zammit, whose favorite NFL player growing up was three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson, is one of 15 athletes from eight countries participating in the NFL's IPP program. It was established in 2017 to provide elite athletes from around the world the opportunity to earn a spot on an NFL roster and increase the number of international players in the league.

Since the NFL began this program, 37 international players have signed with teams and 18 are on rosters. Five players -- Jordan Mailata, Jakob Johnson, Efe Obada, Sammis Reyes and David Bada -- have been on active rosters.

Mailata, a former Australian rugby player, is the star of the program. Selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2018 draft, the 6-foot-8, 365-pound Mailata became the team's starting left tackle in 2020 and has developed into one of the best players at his position.

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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