Louis Rees-Zammit is making ready for his return to rugby union after a 12 months within the NFL, with the Wales wing explaining how he needed to bulk up throughout his time in American soccer
Louis Rees-Zammit (Picture: Huw Evans Image Company Ltd)
Louis Rees-Zammit has disclosed the load he piled on while trying to make his mark within the NFL as he gears up for his comeback to rugby union – although he maintains that hasn’t affected his legendary tempo. The Wales winger was snapped up by Bristol Bears final week on a one-year contract, with the 24-year-old being introduced at a press convention earlier this week.
Rees-Zammit had declared his return to rugby in July, having spent over a 12 months trying to interrupt into American soccer.
Following a surprising announcement on the day that Wales have been revealing their 2024 Six Nations squad, Rees-Zammit hung out with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars as he endeavoured to make it throughout the pond.
The absence of an NFL look in his debut season wasn’t shocking, with Rees-Zammit spending time on the Jaguars’ observe squad to grasp his craft.
However, earlier than the start of his second 12 months in Florida, he selected to return to rugby union – with the chance to don a Wales jersey as soon as extra this November now inside attain.
Understandably, Rees-Zammit’s focus is now shifting to readjusting again to life in rugby – having been required to bulk up throughout his stint in American soccer.
“It’s arduous to say as a result of it’s a lot much less conditioning,” mentioned Rees-Zammit. “I received as much as like 105 kilos and my enjoying weight in rugby was most likely about 96.
“During the last couple of months I’ve actually received myself again to about 100kg and now I’m truly doing rugby coaching, I feel I can get straight again right down to that 96-98 kilo vary and that’s most likely excellent for me.”
Regardless of packing on the kilos throughout his NFL stint, Rees-Zammit maintains it did not hamper his velocity – stating the spectacular speeds he was nonetheless attaining in America.
“It did not truly,” he responded when questioned if the load achieve had impacted his tempo.
“On stats it did not, I used to be nonetheless hitting 23mph at 105 kilos so it was simply the quantity of conditioning, they do not do this a lot as a result of performs final 4 to 6 seconds within the NFL so it isn’t one thing they should have.
“It’s all about repeated sprints for the vast receivers.
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“Enjoying rugby it’s completely different, you’ve got to be very match as a result of the ball in play, if that will get excessive you will be working round lots.
“Weight by no means affected my velocity, it’s simply that body-wise I used to be fairly skinny enjoying rugby, in my higher physique, and that’s going to assist me with collisions coming again.”
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