Louis Rees-Zammit joins Bristol Bears to make Gallagher PREM return following Welshman's NFL exit - 'Obvious choice'
Updated 14/08/2025 at 20:48 GMT+1
Louis Rees-Zammit will play in the Gallagher PREM next season after signing for Bristol Bears. The Welshman swapped rugby union for NFL in 2024 and had spells with Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars. He was unable to nail down a spot and has now made the move back to resume his rugby career with Bristol Bears. Rees-Zammit spent six years at Gloucester earlier in his career.
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A year after leaving rugby to try his hand at American football in the NFL, Louis Rees-Zammit has moved back to the Gallagher PREM with Bristol Bears.
Rees-Zammit left Gloucester in 2024 after six years with the club in a bid to forge a career in the NFL.
He spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars without nailing down a regular spot and has now elected to return to rugby.
Rees-Zammit, who scored 42 tries in 77 appearances for Gloucester as well as 14 tries for Wales, told the club's official website: "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.
"I want to get fans out of their seats, create exciting moments and help people fall in love with the game. I’m excited to return to rugby at a club that demands those values.
"I’m looking forward to working with my team-mates, Pat Lam and the coaches and all the backroom team to bring success to the Bears."
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The 24-year-old has represented Wales and the British & Irish Lions at international level, and Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam is thrilled to have secured the signature of the talented back.
Speaking to the club's official website, Lam said: "Louis is a world-class player, and we’re thrilled to welcome him back to rugby union and to the Bears this season.
"Although we have a small squad, we’ve been building quality depth and experience across the team, bringing in players who can cover multiple positions to help us take that next step in the PREM and in Europe.
"Louis offers exactly that to our dynamic back three, with his ability and desire to play both full-back and wing for the Bears.
"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.
"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 when he joins the group tomorrow."
Bristol begin their season with a trip to Salford Sharks on September 13 for a Premiership Rugby Cup match, before heading to Rees-Zammit’s former club Gloucester on September 19 in the same competition.
The Bears start their Gallagher PREM season at home to Leicester Tigers on September 28.
Bristol finished fourth in the standings last season behind table toppers Bath and were beaten in the semi-finals by the latter, who went on to beat Leicester in the final.
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