Louis Rees-Zammit re-signs as wide receiver for Jacksonville Jaguars

Former Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit has re-signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a wide receiver. This agreement means the Welshman can continue to pursue his dream of appearing in the NFL, after switching from Welsh and Gloucester rugby to the NFL in January 2024.

Rees-Zammit will once again compete with 90 players for a place on the Jaguars' 53-man NFL season roster, which begins in September. The 24-year-old can also continue as a member of the team's practice squad due to regulations related to the International Player Pathway program.

Under the regulations, he can also be elevated to the NFL's active roster twice during the season without the Jaguars losing any of their 53 regular players as a result. Previously, the Jaguars did not sign him to a reserve/future contract, so the former Welsh winger became a free agent and was able to negotiate with any team.

In January 2024, Rees-Zammit shocked the rugby world by announcing his retirement from rugby to participate in the NFL's International Player Pathway program, a 10-week crash course designed to teach and evaluate aspiring players. Initially, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs for pre-season training, before moving to Jacksonville last August, where he will now remain for the next stage of his career development.

Rees-Zammit scored 14 tries in 32 appearances for Wales. His last appearance for the national team was in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina, a loss that was the first in a record-breaking run of 14 consecutive Test defeats that led to Warren Gatland's departure during the 2025 Six Nations. The new agreement also eliminates any thought of Rees-Zammit returning to rugby union in the near future.

Rees-Zammit has yet to make an appearance in the NFL, but he did play in three pre-season games for the Chiefs and watched his former team miss out on a third consecutive Super Bowl title in New Orleans, Louisiana.