Louis Rees-Zammit will abandon his NFL dream and return to rugby union. The 24-year-old Welshman has announced he is quitting American football just 18 months after his high-profile move Stateside. He spent pre-season last year with the Kansas City Chiefs before signing for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but did not play in any regular season games. Mail Sport exclusively revealed in January that he was considering ditching his NFL dream after the Jags released him, though they subsequently re-signed him. But now he has announced on Instagram: '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.' Rees-Zammit won a lot of admirers for throwing away a comfortable position in rugby union to try and fulfil his dream in the United States. He came through the NFL's International Player Pathway and initially joined the Kansas City Chiefs - the side of Taylor Swift's boyfriend travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes. However, he was cut by the Chiefs after failing to impress them sufficiently in pre-season. He spent the entire 2024 season as part of the Jaguars' practice squad, though they never elevated him to their active 53-man roster. Rees-Zammit left them at the end of the campaign but soon re-signed as part of their expanded off-season roster. There have been recent reports of a lower back injury and it is unclear how long it will be until he is fully recovered. Before leaving rugby, he accumulated 32 Wales caps, spent six years with Gloucester, and was on the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour.