Louis Rees-Zammit admits rugby return hasn't gone to plan
SPOTLIGHT: Louis Rees-Zammit admits his return to rugby has not gone as smoothly as he had hoped, with the Welsh star conceding he is still searching for his best form almost a year after abandoning his NFL dream.
The 25-year-old will start against the Springboks in Saturday’s Nations Championship clash in Durban, eager to end the season on a high after a campaign he believes has been more about readjustment than rediscovering his brilliance.
After walking away from American football last year to return to the sport that made his name, Rees-Zammit has featured in 10 of Wales’ 11 Tests this season, making eight starts while splitting his time between wing and fullback.
*Continues below…
His only absence came in Wales’ 0-73 defeat to South Africa last November, when he was unavailable because the fixture fell outside World Rugby’s international window and he was tied to English club Bristol.
Despite his regular involvement, Rees-Zammit admits he expected to make a bigger impact.
“I haven’t settled back into rugby as quickly as I wanted,” he said.
“The more games I’m playing, the more confidence I’m getting.”
The electric back believes the constant positional changes and the demands of a lengthy season made it difficult to build momentum.
“It has been a very long season and I’ve played multiple positions,” he said.
“I never quite got my feet on the ground and got back running like I used to, but I’ve learned so much.”
*Also read: South Africa v Wales – Teams and Prediction
With the 2027 World Cup edging closer, Rees-Zammit sees next season as the ideal opportunity to rediscover the form that once made him one of the game’s most feared finishers.
“Hopefully I can give it my all for this final game, then next year is the year I try to make the biggest impact I can.”
Despite the challenges of his comeback, the Welsh international insists he has never questioned his decision to return to rugby.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it,” he said.
“It’s taken a bit of time to find my feet again, but this is the sport I’ve played since I was seven.
“I’ve loved being back in this environment, in the Welsh squad, playing Test matches against tough opposition.
“I was out of the game for a while, so it was always going to take time, but I’m feeling confident and ready to finish the season strongly.”
The showdown against the Springboks now offers Rees-Zammit one final chance to prove his rugby revival is gathering momentum before attention turns to a crucial World Cup year.
