Louis Rees-Zammit will return to the Principality Stadium today for Wales' Six Nations clash with Ireland.
Just over a year ago, it would have been inconceivable that, barring injury, the 24-year-old would be at the game in any other capacity than as as part of the playing squad - but it's safe to say that a lot has happened since then.
In January last year, Rees-Zammit stunned the rugby world by announcing he was quitting the sport just moments before he was due to be named in Warren Gatland's latest squad, in order to follow his dream of playing in the NFL. Since then, the former Wales and Gloucester wing has been on an eventful journey that has taken him all around the United States, having started off in the NFL's International Player Pathway programme.
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After an initial 10-week training programme in Florida, Rees-Zammit signed for the then-reigning Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs, before being cut ahead of the new NFL season after failing to make the active roster or the practice squad. He was then signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad in August and has spent the last six months continuing his development and learning the ins and outs of the sport.
Earlier this month, following weeks of speculation, it was confirmed that the Welshman will be staying in Jacksonville ahead of next season as he looks to jump up from the practice squad and break into their 53-man active roster. But as he prepares for his new challenge, he has made sure to come and support his former teammates in Cardiff this weekend.
It is the first match that Rees-Zammit has attended since he dropped the bombshell that he was quitting rugby and a lot has changed for him during his time away. Here's what you need to know.
Huge new NFL salary
After signing his new deal with the Jaguars, Rees-Zammit's new salary has been confirmed.
According to Over The Cap, the Welshman is on the minimum rookie salary of $840,000 (£666,000) due to not playing last season. Of course, that sum is roughly twice as much as he earned as a rugby player - but there's a catch.
He will only be paid that amount over the course of the 18-week regular season if he can survive the cut and win a place on the Jaguars' 53-man active active roster for the new campaign. Unless he is a member of the active roster for at least a part of the season, he won't see a penny of it.
While the ins and outs of Rees-Zammit's contract have not been publicly confirmed, there appears to be no guaranteed money included in the deal. That means the amount he receives will drastically drop if he doesn't make it on to the 53-man roster.
Indeed, in the event that he lands on the practice squad again, he will receive around $13,000 a week for as long as he remains there. If he gets elevated to the active roster over the course of the season, however, he would likely go back to being on the minimum rookie salary.
Of course, as was the case last summer during his time with the Chiefs, Rees-Zammit could get cut altogether and not receive any money at all from that point on.
During the six-week pre-season training camp he will undertake, he will receive a $2,000-a-week per diem, rather than any official salary, meaning that, if he is cut, he would leave the Jaguars having been paid around $12,000 since the start of pre-season.
In addition to his contract, Rees-Zammit could potentially earn millions in endorsement deals and image rights over the coming years. During his rugby career, he signed with Adidas while he also has a deal with BMW and launched his own sports drink, Savitar.
However, the potential for additional earnings in the NFL is far greater than in rugby, with two of his new teammates among the game's highest earners on and off the field. Chiefs star Travis Kelce's approach to personal branding has seen him earn around $5 million a year in endorsements from brands including Nike, Bud Light, Pfizer and Amazon, while teammate Patrick Mahomes supplements his huge contract with endorsements from the likes of Adidas, State Farm, Oakley and Prime, which bank him up to a staggering $20 million a year.
Feelings on rugby return
Seeing Rees-Zammit back at the home of Welsh rugby this weekend will have many fans wondering if he is planning on coming back to the sport in which he made his name.
But while he took several weeks to weigh up his options after being offered a new deal by the Jaguars, leading to speculation that he could be walking away from his NFL dream already, the former Wales speedster has now confirmed that a return to rugby has not crossed his mind.
Making his feelings clear on the matter in an interview with TalkSport, Rees-Zammit said: "No, I didn't give [rugby] up just to leave it after a year," he explained. "That was never really in my head at all.
"[The reason for the delay] was more I hadn't really had a break since the Rugby World Cup two years ago, so it was just about refreshing the mind and body, go away for four weeks and then make a decision. I did that and I am forever grateful to Jaguars for offering it to me."
He later told BBC Sport Wales: "I've never thought about going back to rugby. It hasn't been in my head that I'm not going to do this. I've always wanted this.
"The second it [returning to rugby] creeps into your head you start doubting yourself and that's not going to happen with me."
Famous ex-girlfriends
Before Rees-Zammit walked away from rugby, he was in a relationship with YouTuber Saffron Barker.
The couple dated for four months after they attended a film premiere together following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with the social media influencer even getting the Welshman's initials tattooed on her arm.
But shortly after he flew out to Florida to begin his NFL training, it was confirmed that Rees-Zammit and Barker were no more as she issued a public statement.
"I wanted to address some of the questions regarding my relationship," the statement read. "Whilst I won’t be going into any detail, I am no longer in a relationship. I am fully focused on my wellbeing, wonderful family and career.
"I want to thank all of the incredible people who have sent me messages of love and strength over the past few weeks. I have read every single one and I can’t tell you how much it has meant to me. It feels so special to have your support and strength, so thank you so much from the bottom of my heart."
Less than two months later, Rees-Zammit was the subject of more relationship rumours as he was spotted with American swimwear model and TikTok star Xandra Pohl, sparking rumours they were dating. Having just signed for the Chiefs, he was photographed at Worlds of Fun amusement park in Kansas City, alongside the then-23-year-old Sports Illustrated model.
The couple were seen screaming side-by-side as they braved one of the park’s rollercoasters, while they also explored Kansas City together earlier in the week, posing with their arms round each other as they were photographed during a sightseeing tour of the city.
While their exact relationship status was unclear, it was suggested that they were dating. However, it seems that they are no longer together, with the pair not following each other on social media.
