Louis Rees-Zammit’s NFL adventure has abruptly ended after he announced via social media that he would be returning to rugby.

The Welshman shocked the sport in January 2024, on the eve of Wales’ Six Nations squad announcement, by stating that he would be leaving the 15-man game to try his hand at American football.

However, just over 18 months later and Rees-Zammit has decided not to pursue that path and instead head back to union.

Rees-Zammit’s message

“I’ve decided to leave the NFL and return to rugby,” he wrote on Instagram.

“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.

“They’ll be more news to come soon but for now, see you soon rugby fans.”

Following his departure from rugby, Rees-Zammit began an intensive 10-week training camp with the NFL’s International Pathway Program in an attempt to get him up to speed.

His athletic talents were spotted by multiple Super Bowl winners the Kansas City Chiefs, who added the Welshman to their 90-man roster ahead of pre-season training.

Rees-Zammit briefly rubbed shoulders with the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, and also played in some pre-season matches, but he did not do enough to make the Chiefs’ final 53 ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

He was not even kept on their practice squad due to the presence of another international player and was duly waived by Kansas.

Louis Rees-Zammit reveals deadline for rugby return if he fails to realise NFL dream

Signed by Jacksonville

Jacksonville Jaguars then picked him up and added the speedster to their practice squad, with the potential for the franchise to elevate him to their active roster.

Rees-Zammit was twice eligible to be activated on game day, including at both of Jacksonville’s matches in the UK, but he was kept on the sidelines.

Despite initially released at the start of 2025, the 24-year-old was re-signed by the Jaguars ahead of pre-season for the forthcoming campaign.

A back injury curtailed his progress in training, however, and put his participation in doubt for the upcoming pre-season matches, which he needed to impress in.

As a result, Rees-Zammit has decided to cut his stay in the NFL short and return to rugby in time for the start of the northern hemisphere club season.

Throughout the whole of 2024, he had expressed an absolute determination to succeed in American football, but more recently lowered his ambitions to keep his options open.

“International players get probably two to three years to make it in the NFL,” he told talkSPORT June. “So I wanted to do it at a time where I maybe could come back to rugby.

“I’m 24 now, probably got one to two more years to try and make it depending on how this year goes. I’ll be 25, 26 when I go back to rugby. I like to think I can still play at the highest level.”

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