Rees-Zammit: Not Found My Feet Back in Rugby Yet

Louis Rees-Zammit is heading into Saturday's Nations Championship finale against the Springboks in Durban carrying a frank admission: his first year back in rugby has not gone the way he planned. The Bristol back, 25, returned to union almost 12 months ago after failing to break into the NFL and has since featured in 10 of Wales' 11 Tests in the 2025-26 campaign — but the sharpness that made him a British and Irish Lion has been painfully slow to return.

'I haven't settled in as quickly as I wanted to back into rugby,' Rees-Zammit said ahead of the Kings Park showdown, where South Africa will host Wales on Saturday at 17:40 SAST. 'The more games I am playing, the more confidence I'm getting.' The numbers back that up in the hardest way. He has crossed the try line just twice in those 10 Tests since his comeback — against New Zealand and Japan in Cardiff last November — leaving him scoreless in his past seven internationals. Before he left for the NFL, he scored 14 tries in 31 Tests. The productivity gap is stark.

He has floated between wing and full-back all season, starting five of his nine Six Nations outings at 15 before telling Bristol and Wales that wing is where his future lies. Blair Murray has since held the full-back jersey for three straight Tests. 'During my whole career prior to going to the NFL, I was on the wing,' Rees-Zammit said. 'I love finishing. That's probably the best aspect of my game, and you get those chances more on the wing than you do at full-back.' Former Wales centre Jonathan Davies added fuel to the debate last week, calling on Rees-Zammit to show more hunger in seeking the ball.

The only Wales Test he missed this campaign was the 73-0 hammering by South Africa in November 2025 — he was ineligible because Bristol's fixture fell outside the international window. He was also dropped to the bench for Ellis Mee after the opening Nations Championship win over Fiji, sitting out the 35-21 defeat to Argentina in San Juan before being recalled to the starting XV for this Durban finale. Wales won in Bloemfontein in 2022, a match Rees-Zammit featured in, but they arrive in KwaZulu-Natal with little optimism after that San Juan loss.

'I never quite got my feet on the ground and back running like I used to, but I've learned so much,' he said. 'Hopefully next year is the year that I try and make the biggest impact I can.' With the 2027 World Cup in Australia on the horizon, Rees-Zammit has one final chance this season to remind Wales — and himself — what he is capable of against the world champions. Check our Cobus Reinach fitness update and the Ruben van Heerden debut story for the full Springbok picture ahead of kick-off.