The Welsh winger's road back to top form has been a bumpy one, and Louis Rees-Zammit is the first to admit it hasn't been as smooth as he'd hoped. Almost 12 months on from ditching his NFL dreams, the 25-year-old is still searching for that elusive rhythm in rugby union – the sport he's loved since childhood.
Despite being a regular presence in Wales' squad this season, appearing in 10 of their 11 fixtures and starting eight times, Rees-Zammit's performances have been a far cry from his usual standards. His only absence was due to eligibility issues for the thumping 73-0 defeat against South Africa in November, which fell outside World Rugby's international window – a harsh reminder that he plays for an English club, Bristol.
As Wales prepare to face the Springboks in Durban on Saturday, Rees-Zammit gave a candid assessment of his struggles. "I haven't settled as quickly as I wanted to back into rugby," he confessed, acknowledging that he expected more from himself over the past year. The versatile wing has been juggling full-back and wing positions, which he admits has added to the challenge of establishing consistency.
Despite the initial difficulties, Rees-Zammit remains buoyant about his prospects, setting his sights on making a bigger impact in the 2026-27 season – particularly with an eye on next year's World Cup in Australia. "This season was a marathon, and I played multiple positions," he explained. "I never quite got my feet on the ground and back running like I used to, but I've learned so much. Hopefully, I can give it my all for this final game, then next year is the year that I try and make the biggest impact I can."
The Bristol back has scored just two tries in his 10 Test appearances since returning, a far cry from his 14 tries in 31 internationals before his NFL stint. Former Wales centre Jonathan Davies recently urged Rees-Zammit to show more hunger in getting on the ball – something the player says he's actively addressing. Despite the performance adjustments, Rees-Zammit maintains he has no regrets about his decision to return to rugby, stating, "I've thoroughly enjoyed it. It's taken a bit of time to find my feet again, but this is the sport I've played since I was seven."