Louis Rees-Zammit's new influencer partner has a famous very famous ex-boyfriend

The former Wales rugby sensation has returned to Jacksonville ahead of the new NFL season, and fans have noticed he’s no longer flying solo. Rees-Zammit has gone public with his girlfriend, 26-year-old Drew Knotts, and the pair have been inseparable during the off-season.

After wrapping up his first full campaign in the NFL — where he spent the year on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad as part of the International Player Pathway programme — Rees-Zammit headed home to the UK for some downtime with family and friends. But he didn’t stay still for long.

He jetted off to Thailand with his brother Taylor and, shortly after, introduced his relationship with Knotts to the world with a string of sun-drenched snaps from the Dubai desert. Think sandboarding, romantic dinners and all the Instagram-friendly moments you’d expect.

The couple have since been spotted stateside at the glitzy Strawberry Ball in Plant City, Florida – Knotts’ hometown – and have popped up at various social events in recent weeks as Rees-Zammit gears up for another shot at NFL action in 2025.

With nearly 30,000 Instagram followers, Knotts has built a solid online presence, working with brands like Kickstand Cocktails and posting everything from fashion looks to travel highlights.

Hailing from Plant City, Florida – just down the road from Jacksonville – Knotts is a former athlete turned influencer with a growing online following. She previously dated internet star Tayler Holder and has built a strong social media profile of her own, with lifestyle content now her main focus.

Knotts is no stranger to sport. A standout athlete from a young age, she dabbled in just about every discipline going – basketball, swimming, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis – before zeroing in on football, where she found serious success.

Despite being mocked for her "boy name" growing up, Knotts let her pace do the talking. She was lightning fast and often outran the boys. She played for the Plant City Lancers and Brandon Flames, and earned a spot on the Elite Clubs National League U14 team – one of only two in Florida.

At Plant City High School, she bagged 10 goals and scooped multiple accolades, including the prestigious Swope Rodante Vanguard Student Athlete Award. She then moved on to college football at Southern Mississippi University after a short stint at Georgia Southern, before hanging up her boots in 2021 after earning her degree.

It’s clear sport runs in the family, too – her brother currently plays American football at Texas Tech University.

She once dated TikTok megastar and musician Tayler Holder, whose songs have racked up millions of plays and whose videos made the pair an online 'it' couple back in 2023.

With Rees-Zammit re-signing with the Jags and gunning for a shot at the active roster this year, and Knotts by his side, 2025 is shaping up to be a big one both on and off the field.

In December 2019, before his international debut for Wales, Rees-Zammit posted a photo of himself playing for Gloucester. Alicia Scholes, daughter of football legend Paul Scholes, humorously suggested an England debut was imminent, despite Rees-Zammit’s Welsh roots. He firmly replied, "Wales*".

In a BBC interview, Rees-Zammit spoke about his past relationship with Alicia, a professional netball player for London Pulse. He revealed the light-hearted attempts by her father to sway him towards England, which he steadfastly resisted.

Alicia and her father Paul found themselves in the spotlight in 2021 due to a viral video that led to playful banter among rival supporters.

Following his NFL trial day, Rees-Zammit ended his relationship with influencer Saffron Barker. The couple had gone public after the Rugby World Cup, but their relationship faced challenges with his move to the US.

Saffron addressed the breakup on social media, expressing gratitude for the support from her fans and hinting at a positive future.

She wrote to her fans: "Hi everyone. I have so much exciting news to update you on, and I promise to keep you all posted on that."

"For now though I wanted to address some of the questions re my relationship. Whilst I won't be going into any detail, I am no longer in a relationship. I am fully focused on my well-being, wonderful family, & career," she further commented. Saffron continued in the recent post:

"I want to thank all of the incredible people who have sent me messages of love & strength over the past few weeks. I have read every single one & I can't tell you how much it has meant to me."

Saffron - who has more than two million subscribers on her YouTube channel - concluded by writing: "I know good things come to good people so I hold onto the hope that 2024 is going to be a positive year for me. Lots of love."

Recently single, Rees-Zammit has been spotted with Sports Illustrated model and TikTok sensation Xandra Pohl. The pair were seen enjoying a day out at Worlds of Fun amusement park in Kansas City, sparking rumors of a new romance.

Xandra, a successful DJ who has played at high-profile venues including Ushuaia Ibiza, is set to perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago this summer.

Alongside his new relationship, Rees-Zammit has also been embracing the Kansas City lifestyle, attending Travis Kelce's 'Kelce Jam' festival and sporting a new ear piercing.

As Louis Rees-Zammit continues to make waves both on and off the field, his journey in the NFL is one to watch closely.