Louis Rees-Zammit straight up admitted he hasn't settled back into rugby as quickly as he would have liked, saying, "I haven't settled in as quickly as I wanted to back into rugby." This 25-year-old talent, who tried to break into the NFL before returning to his original sport almost 12 months ago, is now recalled to the starting side for Wales' final match of the campaign against the Springboks in the Nations Championship in Durban on Saturday.
The Grind of Getting Back In
Rees-Zammit has been grinding, featuring in 10 out of 11 Wales internationals in the 2025-26 campaign. He's had 8 starts and 2 replacement appearances, only missing the brutal 73-0 defeat against South Africa in November 2025 because he was ineligible due to playing for an English club and the match falling outside World Rugby's international window. He's been floating between full-back and wing, clearly trying to find his spot. He admits he expected "a bit more" from himself over the past year. "This season was a very long one and I played multiple positions," he said. "I never quite got my feet on the ground and back running like I used to, but I've learned so much." Despite the struggles, he has no regrets about his return, saying he's "thoroughly enjoyed it" and loved being back in the Welsh squad playing Test games against tough opposition. He knows it was going to take time after being "out of the game for a bit."One Last Shot This Season, Eyes On The World Cup
This weekend's clash against the Springboks is a huge moment. Rees-Zammit found himself dropped to the bench for Ellis Mee in the 35-21 defeat against Argentina earlier in the Nations Championship, after starting the 39-24 victory over Fiji. Now he's back starting, and he's feeling confident and ready to finish the season strongly. He's a player with serious chops, having scored 16 Test tries for Wales in his career and even toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions in 2021. However, since returning to rugby, he's only managed two tries in 10 Tests, one in a loss to New Zealand and another in a victory. He hopes this final game against South Africa is a turning point, with his sights firmly set on making a "biggest impact" in the 2026-27 season, leading into next year's World Cup in Australia. He's ready to give it his all this Saturday, then reset for what he hopes will be a breakout year.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.