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'Dream' Wales cap the next goal as Rees-Zammit commits future to Gloucester

By Ciarán Kennedy
Louis Rees-Zammit takes a selfie after Gloucester's win over Worcester (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Highly-rated Gloucester teenager Louis Rees-Zammit has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract following his hugely impressive step up to the senior squad this season.

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Having scored nine tries in all competitions this season, the 18-year-old has now been rewarded with his first senior contract at the club, as calls for Wayne Pivac to include him in Wales’ Six Nations squad increase.

The wing made his senior debut for the club against Bath last season, and has already achieved a number of milestones in his young career.

The Gallagher Premiership Player of the Month for December, Rees-Zammit is Gloucester’s youngest ever Premiership player, youngest ever player in a European match, and the youngest player ever to score a hat-trick in the Premiership.

With the Six Nations fast approaching, Rees-Zammit said that representing Wales remains his ultimate goal.

“I am delighted that my contract at Gloucester Rugby has been further extended to a senior squad long-term contract,’ he said.

“I love being at Gloucester Rugby and I am enjoying every second of being part of such a great squad. It’s been such an exciting year for me, and I am grateful for the support of all the staff, players and fans of Gloucester Rugby.

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“My dream is to represent Wales at an international level, and I just want to keep working hard to achieve this goal, along with helping Gloucester Rugby reach our ambitions for success.”

Gloucester Rugby’s Director of Rugby, David Humphreys added: “Louis has had an amazing start to his professional rugby career at Gloucester Rugby.

“Not many 18-year-old Academy players get an opportunity to play regular Premiership and Champions Cup, but Louis has taken his chance and become a regular member of the match day squad over the last few months.

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“Having just signed an Academy contract, Louis’s form has now been rewarded with a long-term senior contract based on his outstanding performances for Gloucester Rugby.

“Louis has a very exciting future ahead of him and if he continues to work hard at his game, he will achieve success at Club level and ultimately at International level with Wales.

“Everyone at the Club is delighted he has committed his future to Gloucester Rugby.”

Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann also welcomed the news of Rees-Zammit’s new contract.

“For his young age, Louis has a very mature attitude, a willingness to work hard, and a commitment to rugby,” Ackermann said.

“If he stays humble and stays hungry to improve, I have no doubt that he has an extremely promising career ahead of him.

“Louis has settled in nicely with the senior squad in a short time and I, along with all the coaching staff, look forward to continuing working with him and see him develop further, alongside the rest of the Gloucester Rugby senior players.”

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A
Adrian 24 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

6 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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