LOUIS REES-ZAMMIT ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH SAM WARBURTON

Louis Rees-Zammit has partnered with former Wales and Lions captain Sam Warburton on an exciting new project.

The former Gloucester wing - who quit rugby earlier this year before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs last month - has teamed up with Warburton's SW7 Academy to develop a training programme designed to build "explosive athletes" as fast and as powerful as him.

Warburton set up the academy in 2019 alongside personal trainer Josh Davies, initially to enable amateur rugby players to have access to world-class strength and conditioning programmes. However, it now offers a wide range of programmes for people of all ages and abilities, with the likes of Christ Tshiunza and Wales' strongest man Gavin 'The Bull' Bilton among those to take on challenges in the academy gym.

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However, this is SW7's highest-profile collaboration yet, with NFL rookie Rees-Zammit helping to develop "the ultimate speed and power programme", alongside Team GB sprint coach and former Olympic gold medallist Darren Campbell. The 16-week programme - which the 23-year-old says is "unlike any other" - includes gym sessions to boost athletes' strength, while sprint drills written by Campbell will "help to make you the quickest and powerful athlete you have ever been".

A promotional video shared by the academy and Rees-Zammit on social media shows the Chiefs man being coached by Campbell, sprinting on the track before undergoing a workout in the gym. The accompanying caption reads: "Excited to announce that we will be releasing a 16 week Speed and Power Programme in collaboration with [Rees-Zammit] and Team GB sprint coach [Campbell].

"This programme is purpose built to make you the most explosive athlete possible. Louis is known for being the fastest player on the pitch and we want to bring his training methods to you.

"There will be gym sessions to help develop your strength and power and sprint drills written by Olympic Gold Medallist & current Team GB Olympic Sprint coach Darren Campbell MBE. This programme will be like nothing else on the market, you won’t want to miss it!"

The collaboration is the latest career move by Rees-Zammit, who has experienced a whirlwind few months after quitting rugby to join the NFL's International Player Pathway. Having signed a three-year deal with the Chiefs last month, his family are set to follow him out to the States with his brother Taylor aiming to release the siblings' energy drink Savitar on the other side of the Atlantic.

The Welshman has already made a big impression with his team-mates, with NFL superstar Travis Kelce admitting he was a fan of his confident attitude. "I really just enjoy the guy's energy so far," he said. "He's super excited about the opportunity that he's been given, knowing that not everybody gets these opportunities"

"He was an absolute star in the European rugby league he was in. So for him to make the jump and try and go from Wales to Kansas City, it's a pretty ballsy move and a pretty bold move to be making.

"The biggest advice I gave him was just try not to let it overwhelm you as much as it can, and know that everybody believes that you have the potential to be able to play," Kelce added. "So absorb as much as you can, learn as much as you can in the short time you have before the season."

2024-04-23T09:29:00Z dg43tfdfdgfd