In a shock announcement, Welsh international and Kingsholm favourite Louis Rees-Zammit is to leave Gloucester Rugby and Rugby Union this week for Florida, to join the NFL International Player Pathway (IPP) programme.

Gloucester Rugby has reported the club has agreed to release the winger with immediate effect to enable the 22-year-old to pursue his dream of playing in the National Football League (NFL).

The Welsh international has accepted an invitation to join the NFL IPP which provides elite athletes from around the world with an opportunity to earn a place on an NFL roster.

The bombshell announcement came moments before Warren Gatland announced his Six Nations squad which would have included Zammit. The 22-year-old, who has been capped by Wales 32 times, described the decision as "painstaking".

Louis Rees-Zammit said: "Gloucester Rugby has been a huge part of my life. From the start at Hartpury College and my first professional rugby contract with Gloucester in 2020, to my Wales and Lions caps; the Club has been central to my development as a player, and I'm so grateful for their support.

"I will always be very proud of my time at Kingsholm and want to particularly thank the incredible fans who make the Club so special. Also, to my teammates, George Skivington and Alex Brown, thank you for giving me such special memories and for supporting this next stage of my career.

"I have had the incredible honour of playing rugby for my country which, as a proud Welshman, I've never taken for granted. However, I believe that this is the right time for me to realise another professional goal of playing American football in the US. Those opportunities don't come around very often."

Alex Brown, chief executive officer, commented: "We understand the size of the opportunity before Zam and his lifelong ambition to play in the NFL.

"Whilst we are naturally sad to see him leave, ultimately, we are not able to dissuade him from taking an opportunity of this magnitude with the NFL.

"We remain very proud of the role Gloucester Rugby has played in helping to develop him into the world-class player he has become, and we wish him the very best in the US. He will always be welcome at Kingsholm."