Louis Rees-Zammit admits truth about what happened in NFL and moment he knew it was over
Louis Rees-Zammit is back in rugby and has signed a deal with Gallagher Premiership side Bristol Bears
Louis Rees-Zammit spoke to the media for the first time ahead of his big return to rugby.
(Image: Bristol Bears RFC)
Louis Rees-Zammit has revealed the truth about what happened during his time in the NFL and the moment he decided it was time to return to rugby.
The former Jacksonville Jaguars player, who has now put pen to paper on a one-year deal with Bristol Bears, spoke to the media for the first time since the news of his big announcement and provided clarity on his decision to come back to the sport in which he made his name.
He spent time with the Jaguars as a member of their 17-player practice squad, after being cut from the Kansas City Chiefs' roster at the end of last summer. The first year was understood to be more of a learning process than a genuine chance to make the team, with the second season a more realistic opportunity at getting game-time.
However, before the pre-season games of his second season began, Rees-Zammit decided it was time to come home.
While the decision was the result of gradual frustration, the Penarth-born man revealed there was a moment that he realised his time in the US was up.
"It was definitely gradual," began Rees-Zammit.
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"When I came back for year two, the first month or month and a half I was obviously getting minimal reps and day by day I was thinking about what would happen if I came back to rugby.
"And I just let it keep going, keep going, kept training hard and we had a month off.
"I went back and two weeks in, to be honest with you, that was when I made the decision that I really wanted to get back to rugby and get back to what I am best at.
"And that is here in rugby. I think I have picked the perfect team to continue that."
The former Gloucester man admitted he felt he was "wasting" his talent on the other side of the Atlantic, citing his lack of opportunity as a root cause for his frustration.
He continued: "I just felt I was wasting my talent out there to be honest with you. It's very difficult to get into the NFL if you haven't come through the college system. You just don't get the same opportunities as those boys.
"I wasn't getting many reps and I was fed up when I was practising there. I just wanted to come back and really express my game and play something I was used to. It (rugby) was a good journey but it's one that wasn't finished so I'm excited to carry it on."
The 24-year-old will face Leicester Tigers in his first game back in rugby (if selected), and will be hoping to impress new Wales head coach Steve Tandy, who has replaced Warren Gatland as permanent boss of the Wales men's national team.
Rees-Zammit was also asked about whether having the safety net of rugby hindered him in his journey Stateside.
Former rugby and NFL player Christian Scotland-Williamson questioned Rees-Zammit's commitment to the cause after the Welshman left the door open for a return to rugby.
"It was more I just knew how ruthless it was out there," he said.
"It was absolutely brutal. I was seeing new players every day, players cut every day and it was pretty tough.
"I knew that going out there, I spoke to Christian Wade a lot and he told me his experiences but when I went out there I saw it first hand, that was the reason for me never ruling rugby out because ultimately I could have got cut within the first day of being there.
"That never hindered my performance. I gave it my best shot and maybe I didn't get the opportunities playing coming out of college did.
"It makes sense really from a coach's point of view, because those boys have been playing that sport for so long, it is really hard to coach someone up in a sport they have never played before.
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"I am very real about it probably wasn't for me in the end but it is what it is."
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