Boks to face ‘quicker’ Rees-Lightning
The Springboks can expect an even faster Louis Rees-Zammit when they meet Wales in Cardiff on 29 November.
The winger, who briefly pursued a career in the NFL before returning to rugby last month, said on The Rugby Pod that he is in better physical shape now than when he came back from the United States.
“I said in an interview that I’d put on 10 kilos and was running at 23 miles per hour when my record was about 24, so everyone thought, ‘Oh, he’s bigger and slower.’
“But now I’ve lost a lot of that weight. I’m back to about 98/99 kilos and I’m definitely quicker than I was before.”
MORE: Rees-Zammit quits NFL for rugby return
The 24-year-old, who signed with English Premiership club Bristol, said the extra weight was down to a lack of conditioning during his NFL stint.
Since returning, he has focused heavily on fitness work and believes he has struck the right balance.
“I’m pretty happy with where I’m at right now,” he said. “I’ve been doing loads of conditioning over the past few weeks to get match fit.
“I’m definitely faster, and I’ve filled out a bit up top too. The boys always used to joke that I had a kid’s upper body, so I’m glad I’ve sorted that out.”
Rees-Zammit earned 32 Test caps for Wales from 2020 to 2023, scoring 14 tries, and is sure to be a shoo-in for new coach Steve Tandy’s November squad.
An eventful return to Kingsholm Stadium for Louis Rees-Zammit
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— PREM Rugby (@premrugby) September 20, 2025
Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
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