Louis Rees-Zammit to join rugby union's breakaway R360 league

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Louis Rees-Zammit is leaving the NFL to join rugby union's breakaway league, Mail Sport can reveal.

The talented 24-year-old Welshman announced he was quitting American Football, 18 months after his high-profile move across the Atlantic, on Friday morning.

In a post on social media, he said simply that he had 'decided to leave the NFL and return to rugby'.

However, it can be disclosed that Rees-Zammit is set to play for one of eight teams in the proposed breakaway league which is due to start next September - after he pens a one-year deal with a club side.

Earlier this week, revealed how Liverpool and Manchester United's owners were ready to become franchise owners in R360, the proposed new competition that is the talk of world rugby.

Those behind the global competition are targeting the planet's best players, with contracts worth up to $1m (£740,000) a season being offered to some of the sport's biggest names.

Louis Rees-Zammit will join rugby's new breakaway R360 league after leaving behind the NFL

The Welshman is ditching American football 18 months after he retired from rugby to pursue it

He built a respected career with Gloucester, Wales, and the British & Irish Lions in rugby union

And it is understood that it is R360's pull which has brought Rees-Zammit, who had spells with the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, back to rugby.

Sources close to the rapid back, who won 32 Wales caps and was on the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour, sees the breakaway competition as an exciting global project.

Franchises are set to be based in London, Tokyo, Dubai, Cape Town, Boston, Miami and two other venues still to be decided. While no club has yet been earmarked Rees-Zammit believes the proposed league can tap into a global audience and elevate rugby union to levels not seen before.

It is thought he will secure a 12 month deal with a club side before switching to R360 ahead of its launch next year. He is also known to be keen to be immediately considered for Wales selection. Given he has earned more than 25-caps there is a belief he would not need to play in Wales to represent his country.

Mail Sport revealed the bombshell details behind R360 earlier this week, along with the news that senior England stars Henry Slade, George Ford and Jamie George were among the leading targets and that half the England squad had provisionally agreed to flee to join the breakaway league.

Anfield supremos Fenway Sports Group and United majority owners the Gamily - along with Red Bull - are among those interested in becoming franchise owners.

The 2003 World Cup winner Mike Tindall and leading agent Mark Spoors are driving the project. As yet, it is unclear where the majority of funding is coming from.

Rees-Zammit initially signed with the Chiefs - the team of Taylor Swift's boyfriend Travis Kelce and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes - before joining the Jaguars. Despite a switch to wide receiver, he did not start a regular season game.

Players in the new league can earn as much as £740,000 per year as rich franchise owners try to lure top stars

Rees-Zammit did not start a regular season game with either the Kansas City Chiefs or the Jacksonville Jaguars

He said he 'could not explain how excited' he is to be returning to rugby after his NFL stint

In January, Mail Sport revealed the former Gloucester man was considering ditching his NFL dream after the Jags released him, though they subsequently re-signed him.

On Instagram, he wrote: 'I've decided to leave the NFL and return to rugby!

'It's been a great experience but it's time to come home. I've decided that this is the best time to make this decision to give myself time to get everything in place for next season.

'There's only one thing that's on my mind, that's coming back to rugby and doing what I do best. I can't explain how excited I am!!

'There'll be more news to come soon but for now, see you soon rugby fans.'