Louis Rees-Zammit makes decison on future as Prem return confirmed
Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit scoring against Georgia.
Wales and British and Irish Lions star Louis Rees-Zammit will make his return to rugby back in the West Country, after penning a move to Bristol Bears.
The former Gloucester ace left rugby union 18 months ago to pursue a career move to the NFL; however, he has returned to the 15-man game ahead of the new season.
Rees-Zammit joins up with the Bears with immediate effect, and is also now back in contention for the Wales squad heading into the Autumn Nations Series in November.
‘Bristol Bears was the obvious choice for me’
Rees-Zammit rose through the ranks at Gloucester to make his debut during the 2018/19 season. In total, he made 77 appearances for the Cherry and Whites, scoring 42 tries in the process.
He also became a mainstay in the Wales side after making his debut in 2020, and has 32 Test caps to his name at the time of writing. The outside back also toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2021.
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Commenting on his return to the Prem, Rees-Zammit said: “Bristol Bears was the obvious choice for me. The style of rugby the team play – all about entertaining the fans and growing the game – perfectly aligns to how I want to play and how I express myself on and off the field.
“I want to get fans out of their seats, create exciting moments and help people fall in love with the game. I’m excited to return to rugby at a club that demands those values. I’m looking forward to working with my teammates, Pat Lam and the coaches and all the backroom team to bring success to the Bears.”
Also commenting on the news, Bears director of rugby, Pat Lam, added: “Louis is a world-class player, and we’re thrilled to welcome him back to rugby union and to the Bears this season.
“Although we have a small squad, we’ve been building quality depth and experience across the team, bringing in players who can cover multiple positions to help us take that next step in the PREM and in Europe. Louis offers exactly that to our dynamic back three, with his ability and desire to play both full back and wing for the Bears.
“He has the drive and ambition to be one of the best back-three players in the world, and his goals align perfectly with our ambitions as a club.
“At just 24 years old, we know the athlete and competitor he is. The way we play and the way he wants to play fit seamlessly together, and we’re looking forward to working with him when he joins the group tomorrow.”
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