Former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit is set to join back-to-back NFL Super Bowl champs the Kansas City Chiefs. Of course the Chiefs are also known for their star player Travis Kelce , who is currently dating pop star Taylor Swift .

According to the outlet, the 23-year-old was also courted by the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos before choosing to sign with the Chiefs. The Chiefs confirmed the news on their ­website, saying: “The Kansas City Chiefs made an international splash on Friday with the addition of former European rugby star Louis Rees-­Zammit to the roster” referring to him by his nickname “Rees-Lightning”.

Here’s everything you need to know about the legendary team’s new player:

Where is Louis Rees-Zammit from?

Louis Rees-Zammit was born in Penarth, Wales in 2001 – a town with fewer than 30,000 people. His surname Zammit is from Malta, where his paternal grandfather hailed from before emigrating to London, according to the Malta Independent.

How tall and heavy is Louis Rees-Zammit?

Rees-Zammit’s profile on the Welsh Rugby Union website lists the young player as being 191cm tall and weighing 88kg.

How did Louis Rees-Zammit get famous?

Rees-Zammit was a name to be reckoned with in rugby, with the athlete making 32 international appearances for Wales and scoring 14 tries, per CNN Sports. In 2021, he became the youngest player since 1959 to be chosen for the British and Irish Lions squad, per the same source.

Why is Louis Rees-Zammit swapping rugby for American football?

“I fancy a new challenge and what a better challenge than to be in the NFL,” he told CNN last week. “I’ve been training really hard for seven or eight weeks now and I think I’m in a good position. I feel smooth, I feel comfortable and I’m ready to show everyone what I can do.”

“My dad as a teenager in the UK, he always played American football,” he added. “It was pretty tough for him back then though to get over to the States and go to college and try and go through that system. “I kind of want to continue his legacy and go beyond and inspire a lot of people back home to be able to make this change and, you know, have the confidence to do it as well.”

Is Louis Rees-Zammit dating anyone?

Until recently, Rees-Zammit was dating YouTube influencer Saffron Barker, but the two have recently split, according to Wales Online.

After Rees-Zammit jetted off to the US, Barker wrote in a statement: “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.”