Louis Rees-Zammit to return to rugby after failed NFL stint

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Rees-Zammit signed an active roster deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 2025 season after being part of their practice squad for the 2024 season. He travelled to London for the games against the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots in October.

However, the 24-year-old posted on social media on Thursday night that he is giving up American football in an aim to revive his rugby career.

"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," he said.

"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."

When he joined the Jaguars last September, he changed positions - switching from running back to receiver in hopes of finding his way onto the playing field.

He previously spent five months working as a running back with Kansas City.

But he made little progress and was considered a long shot at playing for the Jaguars in 2025. Rees-Zammit had missed the last five practices with a lower back injury.

He made 32 appearances for Wales before announcing in January 2024 that he would retire from rugby union in order to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL via its International Player Pathway Program. The program is designed to give players from other countries a chance.

NFL teams can have up to 16 players on their practice squad and get an extra spot for a player from the Pathway Program. Rees-Zammit spent all of last season on Jacksonville's practice squad.

Practice squad players work the same amount as guys on the 53-man roster, but they don't get paid as much and would need to be promoted to the active roster to play in a game.

It was an opportunity to practice with the team while essentially waiting for an injury to open up a roster spot.

For Rees-Zammit, it gave one of the best wingers in rugby for years an opportunity to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL.

His father's "first love of sport" was American football, and the then-Washington Redskins were their team. But making the leap across the Atlantic and into the NFL was never something that everyone back home understood.

The news of his return is likely to come as a welcome boost to recently-appointed Wales head coach Steve Tandy.