Louis Rees-Zammit makes Wales rugby admission in live TV interview as he returns to UK
Louis Rees-Zammit makes Wales rugby admission in live TV interview as he returns to UK
The Jacksonville Jaguars player gave an interview to Sky Sports about his NFL career and whether he would return to rugby
Louis Rees-Zammit enters the Sky studios in west London
(Image: Instagram/Louis Rees-Zammit )
Louis Rees-Zammit admits he misses playing rugby for Wales and has left the door ajar for a possible return to the sport in the future.
The Welsh NFL prospect has re-signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of the 2025/26 season, following his first full campaign in the sport. The Jaguars are set to return to London for a regular-season fixture, alongside the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns. In the build-up to the event, Rees-Zammit has travelled back to the UK to help promote his team's Family Fun Day at Ealing Trailfinders rugby club this Saturday.
Rees-Zammit was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs last season before being snapped up by the Florida-based outfit. He did, however, remain on the training squad and did not make the 53-man playing roster. It looks set to be a gruelling few months ahead for the 24-year-old as he bids to make the active squad for next season.
"It's been a whirlwind year and a half, two years now. I haven't had time to really look back on it," he told Sky Sports. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
"I'm still trying to make it in Jacksonville and treating every day the same, working as hard as I can and try to be a great team-mate and learn from them. They've been playing the sport for years and years and I'm just coming into it.
"We have just had a 10-week camp we finished last weekend. It's been very intense, learning a new playbook - it's my third playbook in the last year.
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"I am really looking forward to the future. We have a month off now before training camp starts and the pre-season games, where I am going to try and put my best foot forward and make the 53."
Since the former rugby wing's departure from the sport for a new jaunt in America, Wales' fortunes on the field have been dire.
Wales have lost a record-breaking 17 Test matches in a row and Rees-Zammit admits it's been painful watching from afar. Nevertheless, a proud Welshman, he admits he misses pulling on the red jersey.
"I obviously miss playing for my country. I have got to get a balance, a little bit," he said of playing rugby for Wales.
"I'm obviously loving life over in America, but my country is always going to be my country, so when I was able to play for Wales it was a dream come true."
And what about a possible return to rugby in the future? "You never know in life, do you? Anything can happen," he said.
"I'm still young, which is a good thing, I'm only 24, so I have got time on my side. So we will see what happens."
For now, at least, with Rees-Zammit laser-focussed on getting into the Jaguars' active playing roster, Wales are going to have to end the winning drought without him, with a two-Test tour of Japan next up.
"I think this is going to be a great, fresh start for them, playing in Japan under Matt Sherratt," he added.
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"There are two players who have gone to the Lions from Wales, so they have got a good bulk of players who will come through to play in the next few years.
"I think it will be a great tour for them and fingers crossed I'm hoping they'll win."
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