Louis Rees-Zammit to make rugby return and Bristol Bears debut this Saturday in PREM Cup

Friday, 12 September 2025 at 13:05

byTom Sansom

Louis Rees-Zammit is set to make his Bristol Bears debut this weekend, having been named on the bench to face Sale Sharks in the Prem Rugby Cup this Saturday. The Wales winger returns to rugby union after an 18-month spell in the NFL, during which he graduated the International Player Pathway Programme and had brief stints with both the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Rees-Zammit signed for Bristol on 14 August and has been training intensively with the squad over the past month. The former Gloucester man was rumoured to be returning to Cherry and White, or even had a move to Bath in his sights, before confirming how his West Country desires lied in Avon. Rees-Zammit's pre-season training include a team trip to Portugal, before he now gets his first taste of competitive action in a Bears shirt.

Despite his raw speed and international experience, Lam emphasised that match fitness remains the key challenge for the 24-year-old. "The biggest challenge for him at the moment is just getting back to rugby fitness, he hasn't trained this way for 18 months. He'll be the first to admit the first couple of days, the first week, he was seriously blown but he's getting better and better. By the time we've had that first Premiership game we hope that he's fully ready to go."

Lam also highlighted the impact of Bristol’s other summer signings, including Scotland fly-half Tom Jordan, Argentina lock Pedro Rubiolo, and scrum-half Max Pepper. "They're world-class players and they've already added a lot and they're raring to go, they've fitted in really well."

Prop Ellis Genge, fresh from the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia, also earned special praise from the Bristol Bears head coach. "He's established himself, we've all known that he lives on the edge of aggression, passion — brings that to every team. But I think the thing that he's come out with is his reputation as a world-class scrummager which was class."

Bristol’s second round match in the PREM Rugby Cup sees the Bears take on Rees-Zammit’s former club Gloucester on the 19 September. The Premiership season the kicks off at home to Leicester Tigers on 26 September. For Rees-Zammit, Saturday’s game marks the first step in translating his NFL speed and skills back onto the rugby field, with the road back to the Wales Test stage commencing for the 24-year-old.