How Rees-zammit Can Become A Rugby Star Again

San Francisco 49ers person been scrubbed retired and Leicester Tigers person been pencilled successful connected 28 September successful Louis Rees-Zammit's diary.

The 24-year-old is simply a rugby subordinate again aft a grounded bid to ace nan NFL.

Bristol was confirmed arsenic nan Wales winger's chosen destination connected Thursday aft his exit from Jacksonville Jaguars.

Pat Lam's men are moving towards their Prem Rugby opener against Leicester astatine Ashton Gate successful six weeks' clip - 20 months since his past crippled rugby or, successful fact, immoderate shape of competitory sport.

That will only heighten nan attraction connected his comeback.

So what tin we expect from nan prodigal son's return?

When Rees-Zammit announced his volition to return to rugby it sparked a transportation frenzy.

Crucially, Bristol had finances disposable contempt nan net headdress and spaces to capable successful nan backmost three.

"He's a very talented subordinate and location were a batch of clubs from Japan, France and England chasing him [so] we're chuffed he signed," said caput of recruitment Gethin Watts, formerly of Ospreys, Cardiff and nan Welsh Rugby Union.

Bristol's expansive style helped pinch nan income transportation to Rees-Zammit's relative and supplier Taylor.

Only champions Bath scored much than their 95 convention tries arsenic Bristol only doubly missed retired connected a try-bonus and helping Gabriel Ibitoye finishing associated apical scorer by crossing 13 times.

"The measurement we play nan game, and nan measurement he wants to play nan crippled – it's a cleanable match," said Watts.

Former Bristol and Ospreys coach Sean Holley believes that nan move tin thief nan accelerated Rees-Zammit adhd to his game.

"I do spot Pat utilizing him arsenic a versatile back-three player," he said to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"Bristol usage their wingers really good and bring them disconnected nan helping and for illustration to springiness them nan shot successful hand.

"They want to get nan shot quickly and displacement it wide but Louis will beryllium encouraged to get progressive elsewhere.

"There is simply a batch of kicking successful rugby now, peculiarly successful England, truthful we mightiness moreover spot him astatine full-back, which will beryllium bully because we want him to create his kicking skills."

Bristol person stressed they person not surgery nan slope to motion Rees-Zammit for nan 2025-26 play but a move to nan breakaway R360 convention is mooted for adjacent year.

Bristol's squad members not progressive successful summertime Test rugby checked backmost successful for work connected 16 July.

Rees-Zammit is simply a period down nan mostly of his caller teammates but will beryllium well-conditioned, albeit for different demands.

He was shifted from moving backmost to wide receiver successful American shot - moreover acting arsenic kicker successful 1 believe crippled - but his only protect activity would person travel successful typical teams coverage.

Rees-Zammit was successful a athletics of short bursts. Bristol's stunning end-to-end effort successful their breathless semi-final against Bath successful June showed conscionable what he is returning to.

"Physically he's successful a bully place, but there's a work connected america to merge him backmost into rugby carefully," said Watts.

"We're not going to unreserved him successful consecutive away. We request to measure him. Training [in nan NFL] is wholly different to really we do things complete here."

Time will show whether adding musculus for nan NFL has impacted Rees-Zammit's top-end speed, successful nan short-term astatine least, but first it will beryllium astir nan basics.

"Pat and his coaching squad will request to get him backmost passing, kicking, catching," said Holley.

"All nan beingness attributes are location pinch Louis Rees-Zammit and he will person honed them moreover much successful America. Muscle representation is simply a unusual point and it won't return him that long."

A Six Nations victor and a British and Irish Lions tourist, Rees-Zammit stunned rugby - including Warren Gatland - by revealing his daze NFL move connected nan greeting nan Wales caput coach was naming his Six Nations squad.

His 32 caps mean he is still eligible to play for Wales nether nan headdress norm contempt not signing for a Welsh region.

And caller Wales caput coach Steve Tandy has already hinted astatine a imaginable return arsenic early arsenic this autumn.

"You wouldn't norm thing out. Zammo [Rees-Zammit] brings a large effect and excitement by coming back," said Tandy.

In his absence Wales person fielded Josh Adams, Tom Rogers, Blair Murray, Rio Dyer, Ellis Mee, Josh Hathaway, Mason Grady and Keelan Giles but nary person nan prima value pinch a onslaught complaint of 14 tries successful 32 Tests.

"He's a awesome jock pinch strength, speed, pace, he's an X-factor player," said erstwhile Wales fly-half James Hook.

"He has nan attributes to compete pinch nan champion players successful nan world successful his position.

"It doesn't thief that he would beryllium coming into a Wales squad struggling but he has that x-factor and stardust. I conscionable dream he tin unrecorded up to that.

"Payers for illustration Henry Pollock, Marcus Smith, Finn Russell, Antoine Dupont, Cheslin Kolbe make enthusiasm and a buzz astir immoderate squad they play in.

"Louis fits into that class and if he had been disposable he would person been successful pinch a outcry for a starting Lions berth this summer. He is that good."

With a grounds debased of conscionable 2 Lions tourists, Wales is hopeless for a star.

Even if November is deemed excessively early for a Test return, his comeback could still make excitement - and costs - successful Wales.

Scarlets will besides beryllium rubbing their hands together arsenic nan helping could propulsion much fans to their Champions Cup conflict against Bristol successful December.

And nan 24-year-old is judge to beryllium utilized arsenic a awesome trading instrumentality erstwhile Bears return to Cardiff's Principality Stadium wherever they will again big a Prem Rugby fixture, against Harlequins connected 28 March.