Rees-Zammit coming back

[Puja]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cpdjn2jzq3zo

Hope he had fun and that this latest failure in a long line curtails NFL interest in posching rugby talent.

Puja

[Cameo]

That seems like great news for all rugby fans. Wonder who he's going to play for. Technically, he did say 'Rugby' rather than 'Rugby Union'. Be funny if he joined the NRL.

Good on him for trying, but it seems to hard to break through.

[Numbers]

Some positive news for Welsh rugby at last, I would expect him to go to either England or France as we can't afford him really.

[Sandydragon]

I’d expect an English or French club to make a move. His value must have dropped a bit and I think he’s got an injury at the moment, albeit it doesn’t sound that serious.

Very glad to have him back and you’d have to figure him into the Welsh squad come the AIs.

Probably the right call for him. American football is a really complex game and picking it up a pro level against people who have been playing for years is a huge ask.

Hopefully this might stop a few other decent players being poached in the future, although I can’t find it in me to blame any Welsh players for looking after their future given the recent turmoil.

[Which Tyler]

If UK, then Newcastle (gives you wings) is the obvious option.
Gloucester may be an option as well - rumours of "first refusal", and they've certainly got space under the cap, but have they got the money itself? Looking at their transfers - it's certainly realistic that they could afford him, looks like they're losing 7* capped players, with 2** incoming.

Otherwise, as he's interested in widening his horizons, then I could see NRL appealing - otherwise France or Japan if he's good at languages. No-one else in the UK will have both room under a cap, and the finances available at this point in the season (unless it's been known for a fair while, and only being announced now)





* <10: Mercer, Wade
10-30: Tuisue, Vivas
30+: Carreras, Anscombe, Harris

**: Byrne (22), Laulala (53)

[UKHamlet]

Dammit Zammit. What a waste of two years. I suppose his bank balance doesn't think so, and he's possibly done a few First Downs in Trampbang, Arizona, along the way. At least, I would. Missed out on the Lions, too. Although, he probably wouldn't have been picked, because the Irish fellahs are SO good.

He'll end up at Glaws, I reckon. Better the devil you know. However, there is a "tradition" of not returning to your previous club. So, maybe one of the other West Country sides, or an ambitious second-tier French side. He'll need to train for rugby, though. I can imagine his stamina is shot to hell, unless they keep him for 10-yard dashes every hour and a half.

[Sandydragon]

French second tier would be a disaster for him. He needs to play his way back into the team so D2 or Japan would be less than ideal for prep or visibility.

Maybe one of the regions can put together a 12 month offer.

[Numbers]

He won't be going to a PRO D2 club, that's for our has-beens and almost rans.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Good news if he still remembers how to play union.

Can't blame him for trying but he tried and failed. Who knows how much this has harmed him as a player?

Hopefully he'll prove that he still has what it takes before we bring him straight back into the Wales XV.

[bruce]

He'll need a fair bit of work on fitness whoever he goes to.

[Buggaluggs]

I like Rees-Zammit and I'm delighted he's coming back to rugby. But...I think he needs to maybe back off the self hype a bit. The next I hear of him, I hope it is not him talking about the great offers he's got but a commentator describing him actually playing rugby on the field!

[Buggaluggs]

This is brutal.

[Sandydragon]

I like Rees-Zammit and I'm delighted he's coming back to rugby. But...I think he needs to maybe back off the self hype a bit. The next I hear of him, I hope it is not him talking about the great offers he's got but a commentator describing him actually playing rugby on the field!

Yeah. There’s talk of him signing for the new league and taking a one year contract somewhere. There’s a bit of arrogance in that, he needs to get back into rugby again. I’m sure he can do it, but far better to prove he’s still international class before getting too carried away

[UKHamlet]

This is from the Fail in Wail.

WRU reveal Rees-Zammit stance
Welsh Rugby Union CEO Abi Tierney has not ruled out trying to persuade Louis Rees-Zammit to ply his trade in Wales following his sudden return to rugby. The 32-cap international announced last week that he would be coming back to rugby after spending the last 18 months trying to make it in the NFL, in which time he had spells with both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars

Despite his best efforts, it didn't work out in the United States in the end for Rees-Zammit, who is now considering his options ahead of the new rugby season.

Bristol Bears and his former side Gloucester have emerged as potential destinations for the 24-year-old, but even with the current state of Welsh rugby, Tierney has not shut the door to Rees-Zammit featuring for one of Wales' four professional sides. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.

"I’m over the moon Louis is coming back to rugby because it gives us him for the national team," she said during a press conference on Thursday. "Number one – that’s fantastic news. The challenge we’ve got is we’re starting the season in September.

"You can have a look at what different teams are doing with their salary caps and their players. Are we in touch with Louis and trying to find a way in which we can make something work? Of course it would be fantastic.

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"But I’m sure he’ll have lots of other offers as well."

It comes after former Wales captain Sam Warburton told the union that they should "throw the kitchen sink" at Rees-Zammit to ensure he signs for a Welsh club.

"Now whether he goes back to Wales to play rugby at club level remains to be seen, but it's tricky timing," he told Sky Sports. "There is uncertainty over what the club structure is going to be over the next 12 months in Wales.

"He is probably not 100% sure where he is going to play his club rugby either. But selfishly I'd love to see him back in Wales, it would be great for the game.

"Something like that would make a big statement in Welsh rugby - I'd be throwing the kitchen sink at him, realistically, within the means of the

[Sandydragon]

Maybe I agree.

He won’t be cheap and he will need to readapt. Plus there’s the risk of him disappearing if this new league gets up and running.

But he has a bit of star attraction that Welsh rugby could really use and he could be a very good player again.