Louis Rees-Zammit returned to rugby union because he realised he was "wasting his talent" in the National Football League (NFL).
But he says he has no regrets quitting rugby, claiming he is better for experiencing the "brutal" world of American football alongside Super Bowl stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
The Wales and British and Irish Lions wing shocked his sport when, on the eve of the 2024 Six Nations, he announced his decision to try and make it in the NFL.
Having slowly begun to realise his American dream was not going to become a reality during 18 months of trying, the 24-year-old is back having signed a season-long deal at Bristol Bears.
Despite winning contracts with Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, Rees-Zammit did not play a competitive NFL game.
"I just felt like I was kind of wasting my talent out there, to be honest with you," he said.
"I gave it my best shot but it's very difficult to get into the NFL if you haven't gone through the college system, you just don't get the same opportunities as those boys.
"It makes sense from a coach's point of view, because those boys have been playing that sport for so long and it's hard to coach someone up on the sport they've never played before.
"I was getting minimal reps and it just was something that I was fed up with when I was practising there."
