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Rees-Zammit's all-time sporting hero meant England's flirtation was never a runner
England’s flirtation with Louis Rees-Zammit was always likely to end in tears for one very good reason – the 18-year-old’s all-time sporting hero is iconic Wales winger Shane Williams.
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It was reported last Sunday by The RugbyPaper that Eddie Jones – via team boss Richard Hill – had sounded out the Gloucester winger’s interest in potentially declaring for England on residency grounds ahead of the 2020 Six Nations.
However, that approach was reportedly rebuffed by the youngster who turns 19 on February 2, the day after Wayne Pivac’s Wales open their campaign at home to Italy.
Warren Gatland’s successor is due to announce his squad for the tournament next week and there is much speculation that it will include Rees-Zammit, the Penarth-born kid who has so far only represented Wales at under-18s level.
Fresh from winning the Gallagher Premiership’s latest player of the month award following five tries in three December appearances for Gloucester, he name-checked Williams as his sporting hero during an interview with the club’s TV station.
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Asked to name his three favourite sportspeople, he told Gloucester Rugby TV: “Probably (Cristiano) Ronaldo up top. I have always watched him play – he is something else, the things he has done, the successes he has had.
“Second one would be my sporting hero, Shane Williams. I always used to watch him when I was a kid, went to Wales games and he always used to be the stand-out player.
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“And third, Rafael Nadal. One of the greatest tennis players ever. I do enjoy playing tennis, not that I am any good.”
England's reported courtship of @LouisReesZammit is very unlikely to pan outhttps://t.co/MEpDu18QZg
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 5, 2020
It was last April when Rees-Zammit made his Premiership debut off the bench for Gloucester, appearing in a derby encounter versus Bath, but he came to prominence last month with a stellar show of form which included a hat-trick versus Northampton and two more tries versus Worcester.
It’s a rise to prominence he didn’t particularly plan for. “I didn’t have a main goal,” he said when asked what he hoped to achieve in 2019/20.
“I just wanted to get better every day and just wanted to put that shirt on, run out in front of Kingsholm. I never actually had something up there to go and achieve. I just took it day by day, a see where it got me kind of thing.
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These are impressive stats – no wonder @LouisReesZammit is the #GallagherPrem Player of the Month https://t.co/2212L7tqjZ
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) January 8, 2020
“Definitely, I want to be the best player, I want to always improve. In training, I always want to shine, stuff like that which gives me the motivation to play the game.”
Reflecting on his pathway through the ranks, Rees-Zammit paid tribute to the sacrifice of his family in helping him to make the breakthrough.
“I officially got picked up why Gloucester when I was 16 having moved from Cardiff to Hartpury and then just kept playing, played under-18s, played the academy league, lost twice in the final and then just trained hard, tried to get myself out there and then luckily I got the opportunity to play against Bath last year and it was a very good experience.
? Targets for the season?@LouisReesZammit is just focusing on getting better every day, and running out at Kingsholm ????
See his full feature with #GRTV now ? https://t.co/LHjOxakwaq pic.twitter.com/t4XayLStWx
— Gloucester Rugby (@gloucesterrugby) January 9, 2020
“It is pretty amazing. My family are supportive of everything I do. My dad used to travel three times a week to Hartpury to take me up and back, so they have been supportive. Say if I score or the first time I go on the pitch, I go to look at them, see what they are up to. I love every moment.”
WATCH: RugbyPass have made something truly special with the Barbarians rugby team – the release date is Sunday, January 12
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments