Louis Rees-Zammit has completed his return to rugby after 18 months at the NFL, signing for English Premiership side Bristol Bears.

The 24-year-old has been capped 32 times for Wales and was selected for the 2021 British and Irish Lions tours of South Africa, before his shock move to American football.

Rees-Zammit left rugby union in January 2024 to pursue a career in American football and was on the training squads of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, but did not play in a regular-season game.

The length of Rees-Zammit’s contract at Bristol Bears has not been confirmed, and he is joining the local rivals of his first professional club Gloucester.

“Bristol Bears was the obvious choice for me. The style of rugby the team play – all about entertaining the fans and growing the game – perfectly aligns to how I want to play and how I express myself on and off the field,” he said.

“I want to get fans out of their seats, create exciting moments and help people fall in the love with the game. I’m excited to return to rugby at a club that demands those values.”

Rees-Zammit will join up with the Bristol squad on Saturday, with their Prem season starting on 28 September against Leicester.

With 14 tries in 32 caps for Wales, his return will undoubtedly be a boost for new head coach Steve Tandy. It remains to be seen how his readaption to rugby union will go, but it is expected that he will be back in the Wales squad for the Autumn Internationals.

Director of rugby Pat Lam described Rees-Zammit as a “world-class player”.

“He has the drive and ambition to be one of the best back-three players in the world, and his goals align perfectly with our ambitions as a club,” he said,

“At just 24 years old, we know the athlete and competitor he is. The way we play and the way he wants to play fit seamlessly together, and we’re looking forward to working with him.”

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