Louis Rees-Zammit leaves NFL after 18 months to return to rugby union

After participating in the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP), Rees-Zammit was initially signed to the Kansas City Chiefs, but was cut after failing to impress during preseason appearances in 2024.

Rees-Zammit then joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he spent the entire 2024 season as part of the franchise’s practice squad.

Despite being eligible for elevation to the Jaguars’ active 53-man roster on two occasions as part of the NFL’s IPP player rules, the Jaguars never opted to elevate Rees-Zammit, including at both of their international games in London.

The Welshman temporarily left the franchise at the end of the 2024 season, but was soon re-signed as part of the expanded off-season roster.

Reports out of the Jaguars training camp in July suggested that Rees-Zammit had missed practices due to a lower back injury, and his future with the franchise was placed in doubt.

And on Thursday, Rees-Zammit took to social media to announce his decision to leave the NFL and return to rugby.

Before leaving rugby union in January 2024, Rees-Zammit had won 32 caps for Wales.

His former club, Gloucester, return to Premiership action on 25 September, while the United Rugby Championship season starts the following day.