Louis Rees-Zammit has revealed that he's returned to Wales faster and stronger after a stint in the NFL, where he played American football. The 24-year-old wing, who made his international return with Wales against Argentina on Sunday, claims he's heavier but also quicker than before.
"I'm heavier, I am more built in my upper body, I am quicker," Rees-Zammit said of his transformation during the past two years playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs. The experience has apparently helped him become a power option on the wing rather than just relying on his speed.
Rees-Zammit suffered a toe injury in one of his four games with the Bears but proved his fitness to earn selection on Wales' bench for the autumn opener, receiving plenty of cheers from the crowd. After being out of the game for two years, he reflected on how much he missed playing at the Principality Stadium in front of Welsh fans.
"It was incredible," Rees-Zammit said of hearing the support from his fans when he came off the bench. "You don't really know you've left until you go back." Wales won just one of 19 tests while Rees-Zammit was away playing American football, but the wing believes the team has built a solid foundation that will pay dividends in their next match against Japan.
"I can do as much as I can in training, but we've got to show it on the weekend when all the fans have paid good money to come watch us play," Rees-Zammit said. He intends to help Wales upset Japan and leapfrog into 12th place in the world rankings ahead of December's World Cup draw.
Rees-Zammit's last international victory was against Georgia at the 2023 World Cup, but he believes that this match will be different from his previous games. "Everyone's locked in on what's next," Rees-Zammit said. "Japan will be a tough game, but everyone is raring to go and is buying in 100%. We're all ready."
"I'm heavier, I am more built in my upper body, I am quicker," Rees-Zammit said of his transformation during the past two years playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs. The experience has apparently helped him become a power option on the wing rather than just relying on his speed.
Rees-Zammit suffered a toe injury in one of his four games with the Bears but proved his fitness to earn selection on Wales' bench for the autumn opener, receiving plenty of cheers from the crowd. After being out of the game for two years, he reflected on how much he missed playing at the Principality Stadium in front of Welsh fans.
"It was incredible," Rees-Zammit said of hearing the support from his fans when he came off the bench. "You don't really know you've left until you go back." Wales won just one of 19 tests while Rees-Zammit was away playing American football, but the wing believes the team has built a solid foundation that will pay dividends in their next match against Japan.
"I can do as much as I can in training, but we've got to show it on the weekend when all the fans have paid good money to come watch us play," Rees-Zammit said. He intends to help Wales upset Japan and leapfrog into 12th place in the world rankings ahead of December's World Cup draw.
Rees-Zammit's last international victory was against Georgia at the 2023 World Cup, but he believes that this match will be different from his previous games. "Everyone's locked in on what's next," Rees-Zammit said. "Japan will be a tough game, but everyone is raring to go and is buying in 100%. We're all ready."