Over the next few weeks, Wales head coach Steve Tandy will be finalising his squad for the Six Nations. Despite attending the Welsh derbies over the festive period, the new coach would have highlighted one position in particular—the 15 jersey.
But a player who plays in the Gallagher Prem has to be at the forefront.
Join RUCK’s Instagram broadcast channel and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.
Louis Rees-Zammit, who made his long-awaited return to international rugby in last year’s Autumn Nations Series, starting against Japan and New Zealand on the wing and scored in both appearances. But, during Bristol Bears’ last three outings in December and early January, the 24-year-old has started at fullback.
The back-three is an area within the current landscape of an imperfect Welsh rugby side where Tandy has depth and several options. This is clearer now after the festive period, where players in these game-changing positions are peaking at the right time.
However, the one main question ahead of Wales’ daunting trip to Allianz Stadium in February is whether Rees-Zammit should start on the wing or at fullback?
In his last appearance for Wales in the Six Nations, which came against France at the Stade de France in 2023, he started at fullback with Josh Adams and Rio Dyer employed on the wings.
After wearing the 14 jersey during the 2023 World Cup in France, and before the 2024 Six Nations curtain-raiser against Scotland in the Welsh capital, former head coach Warren Gatland intended for Rees-Zammit to play at fullback.
Those intentions quickly evaporated after the then-22-year-old made the surprising decision to pursue a career in the NFL. But his electric return to the Prem for the Ashton Gate side has been impressive, especially in recent outings against Newcastle Red Bulls and Harlequins.
In those two matches, he crossed the whitewash on three occasions before facing Sale Sharks last Friday, where he never returned for the final 40 minutes due to feeling unwell following a head injury. But those performances, especially against Newcastle and Harlequins, have shown the qualities Rees-Zammit brings at fullback. He’s a game-changer.
Bristol Bears’ head coach, Pat Lam, added: “Louis has the ability to be a world-class fullback. I know a lot of people see him as a wing, but it was always my intention to 100 per cent play him as a fullback.”
His sheer pace and power, especially since his return from America, are impressive. During Wales’ Autumn Internationals, he said: “I’m heavier, I am more built up in my upper body, I am quicker. I am just over 100kg, and I am feeling good and fast at that weight. I am definitely heavier, but I am also faster.”
Seemingly now at 15, the speedster is having more time with the ball to work, creating expertly crafted lines to get his side over the gainline, and being a complete nuisance for the opposition, challenging the high-flyer.
When it comes to selection, there is competition for the jersey. Blair Murray occupied the shirt during 10 of Wales’ internationals in 2025. Murray is a great asset to have in attack, but was brutally exposed during the Autumn despite a strong showing during 2025 in the international arena.
He was definitely not up to the heights he showed in the Six Nations, which almost warranted a British and Irish Lions spot. Tandy cannot afford to field a player who was exploited on the high ball, especially in matches against England and France at the start of the championship.
Let’s not forget his fellow Scarlets teammate, Tom Rogers, who is strong under the ball and has improved hugely over the course of the last year at club and international level. But Rees-Zammit is better positioned to be handed the 15 jersey for the trip to Twickenham, and possibly moving forward for Wales.
He’s just that good at the moment, and it will be intriguing to see how he plays with sterner tests ahead.
Like this:
Like Loading…