The former Wales rugby star has faced criticism over a photoshoot with the Jacksonville Jaguars
Louis Rees-Zammit has hit back over criticism he has received after being photographed wearing a Union Jack flag during a Jacksonville Jaguars photoshoot.
The 24-year-old former Welsh rugby international shared the photos on his Instagram account on Sunday night, which saw him pose in full Jaguars kit with his new jersey number of 89. While the other pictures showed him donning a helmet, holding an American football and flexing his muscles, the lead photo saw him pose with a Union Jack flag draped around his shoulders.
The photo irked some fans who immediately took to the comments section to voice their disapproval and ask Rees-Zammit why he was wearing the flag of the United Kingdom rather than Wales.
“Why not a Welsh flag?,” asked one. “Much better than that one.”
Another added: “Be proud of your roots man – demand to have the Welsh flag instead,” while a third wrote: “Wrong flag fella”.
One angry fan went even further by demanding: “Get that s*** off your shoulders”.
Hours after the post was published, Rees-Zammit hit back at the comments as he questioned the need for anger and told those directing the criticism at him to “chill”, insisting he is “Welsh through and through”.
“So if I represented Great Britain in the Olympics then I wouldn’t be able to wear the flag?,” he asked.
“What’s wrong with people [crying with laughter emoji]. I’m Welsh through and through but chill!!”
The former Gloucester Rugby wing – who previously flew the Welsh flag in front of millions at an NFL Draft event last year – was also defended by others in the comments, as one fan wrote: “Keep flying the flag lad, don’t worry about what others say.
Another added: “Wear the flag with pride. Yes you are Welsh, I am English but the Union Jack unites us more than anything. Don’t listen to people who are not worth listening to.”
It comes after Rees-Zammit revealed he plans to return to rugby as he admitted the clock is ticking on his dream to make it in the NFL.
Admitting this year will likely make or break his chance of doing so, he told talkSport: “International (NFL) players get probably two to three years to make it in the NFL.
“I was 22 when I left. So I wanted to do it at a time where I maybe could come back to rugby.
“I’m 24 now, probably got one year, or one to two more years to try and make it, depending on how this year goes. I’ll be 25, 26 going back to rugby. I like to think I can still play at the highest level.”
