Louis Rees-Zammit did not consider returning to rugby despite interest from various clubs as he continues pursuing his dream of making it in the NFL after signing a new contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jacksonville Jaguars announced on Monday they had signed Rees-Zammit, 24, to their active roster as a wide receiver. There was a period where he was between contracts with Jacksonville, but he said he didn't consider returning to rugby union.

"I never thought about that," Rees-Zammit said. "I didn't just leave rugby just to try it for a year. I think people would be pretty dumb to think that I was just going to kind of just leave straight away.

"I'm not ready to give this up and, and I don't think I ever will be. I'm very grateful for this opportunity from the Jags to allow me to sign another contract and give it another go."

Rees-Zammit stepped away from rugby ahead of last year's Six Nations to join the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) -- a scheme which helps elite athletes transition to the NFL and offers them a platform to win a contract with one of the franchises.

He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a running back by the Chiefs on a three-year deal last March but was waived by them in August. He then signed to the Jaguars' practice squad.

Rees-Zammit had been free to sign for another team as his deal had expired. He took a four-week break to assess his options and recharge.

"At the end of last season, I got sat down and they offered me a future contract, which was amazing," Rees-Zammit said. "I haven't really had any time off since the Rugby World Cup two years ago. So I kind of just wanted to take four weeks off and refresh my mind and body from everything and just kind of used that to clear and to make a decision on what I was doing.

"Jacksonville have got an unbelievable project in these new coaches and obviously our roster is stacked. I'm looking forward being able to be the best version of myself and learn as much as I can."

During that break between contracts, there was interest from rugby union sides in Rees-Zammit. Ex-Wales coach Warren Gatland said if Rees-Zammit did decide to return to rugby union, then he'd be welcomed with "open arms," but it was never a consideration.

"I mean people talk, but it was one that I wasn't focused on," Rees-Zammit said. "I made it pretty clear ... I'm not gonna leave after a year and it is my dream to be in this league.

"People did try reaching out, but it was one that I definitely wasn't listening to this has always been my dream, so I want to do this for the rest of my career."

Rees-Zammit was at the Super Bowl on Feb. 9 and witnessing that first-hand has increased his hunger to crack NFL.

"It was an unbelievable experience just being in New Orleans for four days and just experiencing the whole thing. I mean, every single NFL player or American football player wants to be in a Super Bowl, and it makes everyone hungrier," he said.

"I think for me, I set goals, but the first one is to make a roster. So, I don't really look past that. I'm fully focused on doing that, and then from there we can set more goals. But I mean, I haven't made a roster in the past year, so this is the time to go out and show coaches what I can do."