Jacques O'Neill could return to rugby league following his decision to quit ITV reality show Love Island.
O'Neill was released from his contract with Super League side Castleford Tigers last month to allow him to go on the show. However, the club confirmed they have the first option to re-sign the 23-year-old next year "should he wish to return to rugby league".
In a statement before entering the villa, the club said: "Castleford Tigers can confirm that the club has agreed to release Jacques O'Neill from his contract to allow him to pursue another opportunity. The Tigers have the first option to sign O'Neill back next year should he wish to return to rugby league."
After being contacted for comment by Mirror Sport after his bombshell decision to leave the villa, Castleford said they would not say anything further regarding O'Neill's future with the club following his exit from the Love Island villa. The Cumbrian star, who can play as either a hooker or loose forward, did hint that he planned to return to rugby league during his stint on the show.
After coupling up with Paige Thorne, O'Neill told her: "When we play on a Friday night we get the weekend off, so when I have a Friday game I'll drive straight to Wales and have the weekend with you."
However, O'Neill has signed with FOMO Models and could prioritise a modelling career over a return to rugby league. "Jacques is being inundated with brand offers and exciting opportunities," the agency's managing director Rob Wilson told The Sun .
"His one dream is to buy his mum a house and I'm pretty certain his dreams will quickly become a reality." Castleford Tigers boss Lee Radford told Daily Star Sport that O'Neill's decision to join Love Island came as a "shock".
"Obviously, it was shock originally," Radford said. "But I am not on social media and I am probably not down with the kids at the minute.
"Financially I'm led to believe there's far more benefits in that career path than there is in rugby league, unfortunately."
