Rees-Zammit in doubt for start of Wales' campaign

NEWS: Louis Rees-Zammit is in a race against time to be fit for Wales’ international fixtures after the Bristol Bears issued an update on the winger, having limped off during their 17-50 defeat to Saracens last weekend.

The Bears confirmed the list of injuries, and together with Rees-Zammit, Joe Jenkins, and Tom Jordan are also among the walking wounded.

Jenkins is set to go under the knife on Saturday after suffering a proximal hamstring rupture when his foot caught in the 4G surface while being counter-rucked.

The Bears have also seen AJ MacGinty, Harry Randall, and Gabriel Ibitoye forced off in matches this season.

That trio all required surgery on their injuries, while the club was already treating the likes of Noah Heward, Rich Lane, Sam Wolstenholme, Jack Bates, and James Williams

Bears coach Pat Lam said, “We couldn’t do much in training on Tuesday, and a lot of guys who were up for selection couldn’t train. It is what it is. Our sessions are not what we normally do, but we have to adapt.

“We have to focus on what will be beneficial to us at the weekend, so we have done a lot of clarity work off the field in the classroom.”

Rees-Zammit is currently in a moon boot.

According to Lam Rees-Zammit’s injury throws doubt about him featuring for the start of Wales’ campaign, which begins against Argentina on November 9.

He confirmed Rees-Zammit was struggling to walk after Saturday’s match after a player fell on his foot following a break.

There is no specified date for his return from the “foot sprain”, although he is expected to be missing for the next few weeks.

There is hope that he could still be fit for the start of November. The Wales squad is due to be named the week after next.

Rees-Zammit would have been near the top of new head coach Steve Tandy’s plans following his return from the NFL.

The wing, who last played for Wales in the 2023 World Cup quarterfinal defeat to Argentina in Marseille, left for America last year to try his hand at American football.

After stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, he announced back in July that he would return to rugby, having not played a single game in the NFL.