The 24-year-old could find himself back in a Wales squad for the first time in two years this week
Louis Rees-Zammit speaks to TNT Sport's Austin Healey
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Louis Rees-Zammit has revealed the change he's made to his game since returning from the NFL that could see him reach even greater heights in rugby union.
The Wales wing was already an established name in rugby prior to his move to American football, having won 32 caps for his country and toured with the British and Irish Lions. However, having returned to the sport after spending over a year trying to crack the NFL stateside with the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, he believes he's found an extra dimension to his game while learning the ropes in gridiron.
Speaking to former England and Leicester back Austin Healey, the 24-year-old was asked what things he had learned in the NFL that would see him kick on during his second stint in rugby union.
"Before I left, I thought my physicality wasn't up there with... I was playing with the likes of George North," Rees-Zammit told TNT Sport.
"Previously I was just getting away with being fast and trying to run around people. Ultimately, that doesn't always work.
"It was just being more aggressive. You can probably see now me running through contact.
"I'm a lot more explosive."
Bristol Bears' Louis Rees-Zammit
Bristol Bears' Louis Rees-Zammit(Image: PA Wire)
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Rees-Zammit will be hopeful of demonstrating that new-found physicality in a Welsh jersey this autumn - having not played Test rugby since October 2023.
New head coach Steve Tandy names his first Wales squad this week, with Rees-Zammit almost certain to be included in it.
The only concern is a foot injury picked up against Saracens a couple of weeks ago for Bristol, which has kept him sidelined since.
Bears coach Pat Lam said last week that Rees-Zammit, who crossed for 14 Test tries in his first spell with Wales, could feature for the Gallagher Prem club ahead of the November internationals.
However, with Wales having only just ended their run of 18 consecutive Test defeats - the first of which was also Rees-Zammit's last match for Wales - you would expect them to name Rees-Zammit in the squad on Tuesday if there's even the slightest chance of him being fit next month.
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