Wales and British and Irish Lions star Louis Rees-Zammit is back in rugby union with the Bristol Bears, but his new coach has insisted he hasn’t signed for the money. The winger has returned to the game after 18 months in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He had been widely expected to rejoin Gloucester, having spent six years at Kingsholm before leaving for America. However, it was confirmed this week that Bristol had won the race for the 24-year-old, who has signed an initial one-year deal. New Welsh coach Steve Tandy immediately stated that Rees-Zammit would be considered for selection, having scored 14 international tries before heading to America.
Bristol coach Pat Lam has lauded his new signing. The Samoan icon also argued that Rees-Zammit’s decision wasn’t a financial one, but was born out of a desire to join the club after they reached the Rugby Premiership play-offs last season.
“He’s coming for the programme, to win trophies and to become a better player with his family close by, giving him the best chance to get back into the Wales side,” said Lam. “It all fitted well.”
Lam reportedly held over-the-phone talks with Rees-Zammit as he persuaded the former Hartbury College student to join. The pair were said to have discussed the player’s Wales ambitions before agreeing on a one-year deal.
Chief executive officer Tom Tainton said: “If we have a chance to go to the market and bring in a game changer, which we’d count Louis as, we have the ability to do that. The owner and the board were involved in this from the very start and are very excited about what Louis can bring.”
Rees-Zammit made his international debut in 2020, aged 19, but quickly established himself under then-coach Wayne Pivac. He was part of Wales’ Six Nations title-winning side in 2021 and featured for them at the 2023 World Cup.
He also toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions in 2021. For the Cherry and Whites, he scored 42 tries in 77 club matches and remains the youngest player to have represented them at senior level.