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The Bristol director of rugby, Pat Lam, has said Louis Rees-Zammit’s recent NFL tilt made him a stronger and more dangerous rugby player.
The Wales back joined the NFL’s international pathway programme in January 2024, and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs before a spell at the Jacksonville Jaguars. He returned to rugby after 18 months without playing an NFL match, signing for Bristol in July. Lam said that since signing for the Bears, the 24-year-old has been working to reach match fitness, but that his increased power has made it harder for opponents to stop him.
“It’s made him a more rounded player,” Lam said. “He’ll beat tackles, he’s powerful. I think he fights a long time on his feet. If you take a little snapshot – a look from a close up [in contact] – you think he’s playing the NFL, working his way through the scrimmage line and the defenders. The only thing they haven’t got is pads.
“You look at the change of angles, the quick feet and the power in the tackle – he keeps his feet longer. He’s come back in that physical game a lot better.”
Rees-Zammit played on the wing for Wales and Gloucester before his NFL sojourn but Lam believes his best position is full-back – a view supported by two tries he scored in the win against Newcastle Red Bulls at Ashton Gate last Saturday.
“He can cause carnage when he runs it back but he can also kick,” Lam said. “If he couldn’t kick, you’d probably have to keep him on the wing, but he’s got a very powerful kick.
“And we saw against Quins, his chip and chase is class. He’s very skilful in that area. He’s only 24 and I see him as 100% a full-back who can play wing.”
Of Rees-Zammit’s positional switch to No 15, Lam added: “It was always my intention for him to go there. When he first came back he needed to build up his match fitness, being out [of rugby] for 18 months.
“We’ve been quietly working him behind the scenes, getting his fitness. He went to Wales as well and got some more work done there. That was always the plan. He was supposed to do it [play full-back] against Saints but he got injured, then he did it against Scarlets. He had a bit of time there against Pau. Last week Quins, and now this week. I believe that’s his best position.”
Bristol, who have won their last five matches, host Sale in the Prem on Friday. The Sharks’ director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, said he would make a plan to deal with Rees-Zammit. “I think you have to,” Sanderson said. “Not only has he got a massive left boot on him but he’s such a threat. Whether it be your decision-making around where and when you kick – that’s important – because if you give him too much space on the front foot, he’s going to make something happen.”
Sanderson also backed up Lam’s point about the Welshman’s ball-carrying strength. “Your [defensive] connections, if you do kick long, [you have] to try and get a double shoulder on him because he’s likely to step out of the first [tackle]. There’s a bit of focus on him.”
