1
After seven rounds of the Gallagher Premiership season and four rounds of European competition, few players have lit up rugby in the northern hemisphere like 18-year-old Louis Rees-Zammit.
ADVERTISEMENT
The young Welshman is in his first year of professional rugby, having graduated from Gloucester’s junior academy and Hartpury College last season. Thanks to various injuries in the back line, Rees-Zammit has not been short of a game time in his debut season.
The wing is currently tied with Ben Earl atop the Premiership’s try scorers list having crossed the whitewash five times and he has not looked out of his depth at all, as Gloucester seek to consolidate their place in the tournament’s playoff positions.
He has been talked about as a bolter for Wayne Pivac’s Wales squad for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations and should he make that cut and receive his first senior cap, both the WRU and Gloucester have an interesting dilemma ahead of them.
Should Rees- Zammit be capped, he would be obligated to return to Wales at the conclusion of his current contract if he wishes to continue playing for Wales, provided a Welsh region made him an offer that was realistically comparable to what he was being offered outside of Wales. The only players exempt from this rule are those with 60 or more international caps.
The incredible tale of what former rugby star Andy Powell been doing since he retired from the sport. Coming soon… pic.twitter.com/AXaWyNLVB1
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 27, 2019
Exeter Chiefs tighthead Tomas Francis had exploited a loophole in this regulation, with his prolonged deals with Exeter deemed to be a contract extension, rather than a new contract, something that keeps him eligible for Welsh selection, despite not having yet met the 60-cap threshold.
In terms of Rees-Zammit, who is only on his first contract out of school, should that Wales cap come before Gloucester hand him a new deal, it would be unlikely that any extension at the club would follow suit with Francis, with the youngster likely eyeing a significant wage hike the next time he signs new terms.
ADVERTISEMENT
The immediate consequence of this for Gloucester is whether or not to hand him a long-term contract that is more lucrative than the one he is on. This would see him locked down at Kingsholm for a number of years and not required to return to Wales until the end of the deal, at which point the current regulations may have changed or been scrapped altogether, with the WRU announcing earlier this year that the rule would be reviewed after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The other option is that Gloucester stay the course and hope that Rees-Zammit does not receive an early Wales cap come the Six Nations.
Ackerman has a suggestion for Wales and their new wunderkind
– writes @chrisjonespress https://t.co/OD7jcBGboL
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 28, 2019
The dilemma is reversed for Pivac and the WRU who may feel that Rees-Zammit is still too young for international rugby, but who could secure his future in Wales with an early cap, strengthening one of the regions moving forward and helping provide a positive return on the number of Welsh youngsters heading to English schools as teenagers.
ADVERTISEMENT
Wales and the regions do not lack for resources on the wing, with the likes of George North and Josh Adams having made their way back across the Severn in recent years, as well as the rises of talents such as Owen Lane and Ryan Conbeer, although a player as potentially dynamic and explosive as Rees-Zammit represents a salivating option.
An early return to Wales would also ensure that the national team have full access to Rees-Zammit as he develops, rather than in England, where he would only be released during international windows, unless Gloucester were willing to receive a fine for releasing him outside of the window.
With his development continuing rapidly at the moment, both sides may be willing to carry on as is, although there is likely a flashpoint fast approaching, with the Six Nations just over a month away.
Watch: Inside the Barbarians trailer
Comments on RugbyPass
True Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
21 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
10 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
78 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
21 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
10 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
21 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
21 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
21 Go to comments