Louis Rees-Zammit has revealed the exact moment he came crashing down to earth for the first time after initially breaking through to the top tier of international rugby at such a young age.<\/p>\n
The Welsh star became Gloucester\u2019s youngest-ever\u00a0English Premiership player at 18 years and 70 days, and later became the youngest-ever hat-trick try scorer, before breaking numerous other domestic and European records over the next few months.<\/p>\n
International honours followed soon after, before a British and Irish Lions call-up signalled the next stage of his rugby evolution. Despite impressive performances in the warm-up matches, the then 20-year-old star failed to gain selection in the Test side, however, which left him with a sour taste in his mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was playing my best rugby then\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking to former Wales fly-half Dan Biggar<\/a> on The Rugby Pod, Rees-Zammit reflected on the disappointment from almost five years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t get a Test, and, like, I was top try scorer in the Six Nations that year. So I was a bit gutted, but at the same time, like I was on the Lions tour,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI just felt like I was playing my best rugby then. I got picked at such a young age, but I wanted to play as well. So that was probably the first moment [I was humbled], because I was playing pretty well and we won the Six Nations as well, like I wanted to play, and then I\u2019m not playing.<\/p>\n \u201cI was playing for club and country, starting every game. And then you go on a Lions tour. Obviously, it\u2019s much more competitive, but then they\u2019re like, \u2018no you\u2019re not even playing for what, three, three weeks, three, four weeks in the Test matches\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked how he\u2019d deal with the rejection now, Rees-Zammit<\/a> continued: \u201cI was obviously very frustrated, and I probably made it known as well. But now I think you\u2019ve just got to focus on what\u2019s next, to be honest. <\/p>\n \u201cCareers are too short to get frustrated over little things when you\u2019ve got to look at a bigger picture, and you\u2019ve got to see what\u2019s next. And that was going back to my club, restarting, playing well, trying to get into the national team again, playing well for your country. <\/p>\n \u201cI left before the next Lions in Australia. But now I\u2019m back, hopefully I can go on another one.\u201d<\/p>\n Springbok star has a \u2018mountain to climb\u2019 while All Black legend crosses the try-line again<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI enjoy playing 15 the most\u201d<\/p>\n Initially being employed as a winger by Gloucester and Wales<\/a>, the 25-year-old has moved to full-back for club and country, much to the player\u2019s pleasure.<\/p>\n \u201cI enjoy playing 15 the most, purely because I feel like you\u2019ve got so much freedom,\u201d he told his former teammate.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we\u2019re attacking, I\u2019m never having to worry about going out on the wing; I\u2019m always able to roam wherever the 10 goes. I\u2019m kind of following plays, you just get so much freedom. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen you get the ball in the backfield, that transition, that counter-attack ability. I\u2019m the first one to get the ball. So I can try and make a play, or create something. I think that\u2019s where the role of 15 is playing well for me, really.\u201d<\/p>\n There are very few more exciting sights in world rugby than Rees-Zammit with acres of space in front of him. The crowd noise goes up as the anticipation for what\u2019s next comes through in waves. But what goes through his head when he receives the ball?<\/p>\n \u201cMy first mentality is to score, and if I don\u2019t score, the next thing is to break the line,\u201d Rees-Zammit explained.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I don\u2019t break the line, I want to set up wherever I can, which is best for the team. So, whenever I get my hands on a ball, I want to create something and help the team.\u201d<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as\u00a0a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a>\u00a0for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n The full-back has played every minute of Wales\u2019 2026 Six Nations matches so far, but has yet to cross the try-line, despite leading the stats with a remarkable 292 metres made from 37 carries.<\/p>\n His defence has come under scrutiny, however, having missed 12 tackles, averaging four per match. This has been redeemed somewhat due to his 12 defenders beaten and his impressive defensive clearing kicks.<\/p>\n Wales are yet to record a Six Nations win since March 11, 2023, when they took victory over Italy at the Stadio Olimpico. In fact, Wales have remarkably won just two of their last 23 Six Nations matches.<\/p>\n Rees-Zammit, alongside the likes of Jac Morgan<\/a> and Rhys Carr\u00e9, lead the hopes of a nation to return their side to their former glory.<\/p>\n