Gatland aware of Rees-Zammit’s NFL switch only ‘an hour’ before Wales squad announcementPA
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NewsTranscript
00:00 The news has taken us all by surprise this afternoon. I may or may not explain the delay.
00:06 Lewis Rizamit has announced he's joining the NFL on a player pathway with the hope of joining a squad one day.
00:14 When did you learn of the news and what's your reaction?
00:17 I learned of it about an hour ago. I spoke to Lewis about half an hour ago. It was a little bit of a shock to us.
00:34 Gloucester contacted George Skivington about 12 o'clock. Things have happened pretty quickly in the last 24 hours.
00:45 Lewis rang and said, "Look, here, Dad, an approach on Sunday to go and do a training camp with the NFL."
00:56 It's something he's always dreamed of having an opportunity to do. He slept on it on Monday, went to Gloucester.
01:03 Didn't really think too much of it, whether it would go ahead. It was told by his lawyers not to say anything to anyone.
01:11 Pretty much the paperwork has been agreed and signed. Gloucester have agreed to release him in the last couple of hours.
01:20 He rang me to let me know, to give me that information. Just to say thanks very much for his time in the World Cup and how much he enjoyed it.
01:33 What has happened for him with Welsh rugby. He said he's 22. He's always dreamed of potentially playing in the NFL.
01:42 He's always been a huge fan of it. He feels that if he doesn't take that opportunity now, then it might not happen for him in the future.
01:49 I just wish them all the best. We've always been a great believer in players taking the opportunities that can get presented for them.
02:00 If it doesn't work out for you, what are your next steps? He said he'll come back to rugby. He just feels there's an opportunity and time for him to do that.
02:13 There's never a dull moment in Welsh rugby.