Louis Rees-Zammit has revealed he was considering quitting the NFL some time before he ended up returning to rugby.
The Welsh wing confirmed his comeback in July after an 18-month spell in the USA.
After leaving Gloucester in January 2024 to pursue a career in the sport, he spent time on the practice squads of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, Rees-Zammit was unable to make a regular-season for either team during his short-lived NFL career.
As a result, the 24-year-old has now returned to the Premiership ahead of the upcoming season.
Having signed a one-year deal with Bristol Bears, Rees-Zammit could return to action next month.
Ahead of his comeback, he spoke to talkSPORT about his decision to walkaway from his NFL dream.
Asked why it was the right to time to quit, Rees-Zammit explained: “I’ve been kind of thinking about it for a while.
“I just felt like I was kind of wasting my talent over there. I was kind of getting minimal reps because it’s so hard to make it in the NFL. And unless you go through the college system, it’s even harder.
“So, I just thought right now was the perfect opportunity to come back, especially before the season started.
“I’ve had a whirlwind for the past couple of weeks, and I’m just so excited to get back.”
Despite not making the final roster for either the Chiefs or Jaguars, he admits he could have stayed in the NFL for another pre-season.
Rees-Zammit added: “I definitely could have continued through pre-season and further, but I just felt because it’s a sport that you can’t necessarily get yourself involved (in), you’re very reliant on other things happening around.
“Whereas rugby is a completely different sport. It’s one that you can kind of get yourself involved in the game a lot more and I can kind of use my attacking abilities within the game.
“So, it just felt like the right time and I think Bristol Bears is the perfect team for me.”
Prior to leaving Gloucester, Rees-Zammit spent six years in the Premiership with the club.
He also earned 32 caps for Wales, scoring 14 tries across those appearances.
The chance to join a club close to his home proved crucial to the decision to join Bristol.
Rees-Zammit admitted: “It’s been crazy because one day you’re living in Florida and the next you’ve made an announcement to leave and come back to Wales. Come back to wherever the team was.
“There were many leagues that we had contact with, but I think Bristol was the perfect fit for me. And it also allows me to live in Wales.”
When could Rees-Zammit return?
A member of the 2021 British and Irish Lions squad, Rees-Zammit has already joined up with his new teammates.
He could make his return in the Premiership Rugby Cup as early as next month.
Bristol visit Sale Sharks at the Salford Community Stadium on September 13.
They then kick off their Premiership campaign against Leicester Tigers two weeks later.