Louis Rees-Zammit’s NFL journey has taken a significant step forward as the Jacksonville Jaguars announced the signing of the former Welsh rugby international to their active roster for the 2025 season.

We have signed WR Louis Rees-Zammit to the active roster. #DUUUVAL

👉 read more https://t.co/iAIbjkEfRU pic.twitter.com/UTXvNzhOjc

— Jaguars UK and IE (@JaguarsUKandIE) February 17, 2025

The 23-year-old from Penarth, Wales, who shocked the rugby world by leaving the sport on the eve of the 2024 Six Nations to pursue an NFL career, has earned this promotion after spending the 2024 season on the Jaguars’ practice squad. Under NFL rules specific to the International Player Programme, Rees-Zammit can maintain his practice squad eligibility while also being eligible for two promotions to the active roster during the season without the Jaguars losing one of their 53 regular spots.

“I’m excited to extend my stay in Jacksonville by signing for another year,” Rees-Zammit said. “While I know it was a tough season on the field for the team, I think I made some great progress with my own game, and I’m looking forward to continuing the hard work and advancing my skills even more, and believe that Jacksonville is the place for me to do that.”

The former Gloucester Rugby star, who scored 14 tries in 32 appearances for Wales with his last coming in the 2023 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina, has undergone a positional evolution since entering the NFL. After initially trialing as a running back with the Kansas City Chiefs during his first NFL experience, Rees-Zammit has now been officially listed as a wide receiver by the Jaguars, suggesting a refined focus for his explosive pace and athletic abilities.

His journey to this point hasn’t been straightforward. After joining the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) Program – a 10-week crash course designed to teach and assess aspiring players – Rees-Zammit initially signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in March 2024. He featured in three pre-season games before being waived by the defending Super Bowl champions during training camp, leading to his move to Jacksonville’s practice squad in August.

The Jaguars’ decision to sign him to the active roster indicates their belief in his development potential. While this signing guarantees him a place on the 90-man pre-season roster, Rees-Zammit will need to continue his rapid development to survive the cuts that will reduce the squad to 53 players before the regular season begins in September.

“The future looks bright with the Jaguars with the appointment of Coach Coen and the rest of the staff,” Rees-Zammit added, “and honestly, I can’t wait to get back to it.”

For rugby fans who hoped the young star might return to the sport where he became the youngest player since 1959 to be selected for the British & Irish Lions, this move appears to end such speculation. Instead, it marks another chapter in one of sport’s most intriguing code-switching attempts, as Rees-Zammit continues his bid to transform from rugby prodigy to NFL wide receiver.

British and Irish Lions pair Josh Adams and Liam Williams return to the Wales team for Friday’s Six Nations opener against France in Paris, as head coach Warren Gatland looks to end a record run of 12 consecutive Test defeats.

🚨 𝗧î𝗺 𝗖𝘆𝗺𝗿𝘂 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Here is your Wales 2️⃣3️⃣ for our @SixNationsRugby opener 🆚 @FranceRugby on Friday night at the Stade de France, 20:15 KO! 🔥👇#GuinnessM6N | #FRAvWAL

— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@WelshRugbyUnion) January 29, 2025

Wing Adams makes his first Wales appearance since the 2024 Six Nations, while fullback Williams returns to the international fold after missing last year’s championship during a stint in Japanese rugby. The experienced duo, who boast 151 caps between them, add significant firepower to a backline that struggled throughout 2024, with Wales conceding 50 tries while scoring just 30 during their difficult campaign.

In another key return, Exeter Chiefs lock Dafydd Jenkins is back in the second row after nearly 11 months out following knee and shoulder operations. Jenkins, who captained Wales during the 2024 Six Nations at just 21 years old, partners Will Rowlands in the engine room, with the Racing 92 forward’s experience of French rugby potentially proving valuable at the Stade de France.

The most notable selection comes in the front row, where Cardiff hooker Evan Lloyd and former England prop Henry Thomas are handed their first Wales starts in what promises to be a stern examination against a powerful French pack. Lloyd, 23, gets the nod ahead of the more experienced Elliot Dee, with Gatland backing the physical hooker despite a crucial lineout error during last summer’s narrow defeat to Australia.

“I just think Evan is definitely a player of the future,” said Gatland. “He’s a big man. We know how good he is around the field. Yes, he’s got some learning to do from his set-piece stuff, but we’ve got a couple of players that have a lot of experience in France in terms of Henry Thomas and Will Rowlands around them.”

Thomas, 33, makes his full Wales debut having previously won seven caps for England between 2013-14. The Scarlets tighthead’s knowledge of French rugby, gained during spells with Montpellier and Castres, could prove invaluable against a formidable French scrum.

There’s no place in the matchday 23 for veteran number eight Taulupe Faletau, who ruled himself out on Tuesday due to an ongoing knee issue. The 104-times capped forward hasn’t played Test rugby since breaking his arm against Georgia at the 2023 World Cup, before suffering a subsequent shoulder fracture upon his return to club rugby with Cardiff. Aaron Wainwright continues at number eight, with captain Jac Morgan and James Botham completing the back row.

In the backline, Ben Thomas starts at fly-half having played primarily at inside center during the autumn internationals. Gatland has opted for experience in midfield, where Nick Tompkins returns to partner Owen Watkin. The pair have 80 caps between them but have only started together four times previously. Scarlets wing Tom Rogers, who impressed during the autumn series, completes the back three alongside Adams and Williams.

The team selection shows a clear emphasis on experience, with the starting XV containing 487 caps – more than double the 205 caps in the side that lost 45-12 to South Africa in their last outing. However, this is still only half the experience of the Wales team that last visited Paris two years ago, which boasted nearly 1,000 caps.

“We’ve spoken about the fact that ironically, there is probably more pressure and expectation on them [France],” Gatland added. “There is expectation from their fans. They expect their team to throw the ball around and score tries. From experience and my point of view, teams can try a bit too much early on and throw the ball around and that gives you opportunities.”

The replacements bench includes uncapped Ospreys fly-half Dan Edwards, who has earned praise for his development at regional level. Prop Nicky Smith is in line to win his 50th cap if called upon, while Freddie Thomas and Blair Murray could make their Six Nations debuts having earned their first caps during the autumn series.

Wales will need to overturn recent history to start their campaign with a victory, having lost their last six matches against France. Their last win in Paris came in 2019, during a period where they won eight out of nine meetings with Les Bleus between 2012 and 2019.

Wales team to play France (Friday, 20:15 GMT):

Liam Williams (92 caps), 14. Tom Rogers (5), 13. Nick Tompkins (38), 12. Owen Watkin (42), 11. Josh Adams (59), 10. Ben Thomas (7), 9. Tomos Williams (59); 1. Gareth Thomas (35), 2. Evan Lloyd (5), 3. Henry Thomas (4), 4. Will Rowlands (36), 5. Dafydd Jenkins (19), 6. James Botham (16), 7. Jac Morgan (capt, 18), 8. Aaron Wainwright (52).

Replacements: 16. Elliot Dee (51), 17. Nicky Smith (49), 18. Keiron Assiratti (10), 19. Freddie Thomas (1), 20. Tommy Reffell (23), 21. Rhodri Williams (5), 22. Dan Edwards (uncapped), 23. Blair Murray (3).

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has announced a historic change in protocol that will see the Principality Stadium roof remain closed for all international fixtures over the next two years, ending years of debate over match conditions at the Cardiff venue.

Previously, both teams had to mutually agree on whether the roof would be closed, often leading to tensions when visiting teams preferred playing in open conditions. The new Six Nations protocol makes a closed roof the default position for all matches, aligning with existing practices at Rugby World Cup and Olympic events.

Principality Stadium Manager Mark Williams emphasized the atmospheric advantage: “There’s no better atmosphere than a packed-out Principality Stadium roaring Wales along. In the past we’ve always come to a mutual agreement with the visiting team on whether the roof remains open or shut, but in this historic move we’re maximising one of our greatest assets and the roof will be closed for the next two years of international Welsh rugby fixtures. When the roof is shut, the noise is intimidating. It’s fantastic for both the fans and players.”

The announcement coincides with confirmation of sell-out crowds of 74,000 for Wales’ 2025 Six Nations home fixtures against Ireland on February 22 (14:15 kickoff) and England on March 15 (16:45 kickoff). WRU Group CEO Abi Tierney celebrated the ticket sales: “Selling out both of our home fixtures is an achievement reflective of the excitement building ahead of another thrilling Guinness Six Nations campaign at the world renowned Principality Stadium. Both senior men’s home fixtures have been in high demand and this is a fantastic achievement and a sign of the passion and belief that Welsh rugby fans have for this team.”

The decision aims to guarantee consistent playing conditions while enhancing the matchday experience. As Tierney explains: “Principality Stadium is one of the most iconic sporting venues in the world and our retractable roof, one of our most distinctive features, enables us to create an amazing atmosphere with the match day experience set to come alive during the 2025 Six Nations.”

The retractable roof has been a defining feature of the stadium since its opening in 1999. The change comes at a crucial time for Welsh rugby, as Warren Gatland’s side looks to improve upon their challenging 2024 campaign, where they finished bottom of the Six Nations without a win and suffered a record 12 international defeats.

Before their home fixtures, Wales will begin their 2025 Six Nations campaign with away matches against France in Paris on January 31 and Italy in Rome eight days later, followed by a trip to Scotland on March 8.