{"id":679060,"date":"2026-07-07T19:27:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T19:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/679060\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T19:27:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T19:27:11","slug":"louis-rees-zammit-told-how-to-end-try-drought-and-welsh-star-signs-new-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/679060\/","title":{"rendered":"Louis Rees-Zammit told how to end try drought and Welsh star signs new deal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The latest rugby news and headlines from Wales and beyond<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0_CDF_150226_KA_Wales_v_France_074JPG.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Rees-Zammit struggled to make an impact against Fiji\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Rees-Zammit struggled to make an impact against Fiji(Image: Kian Abdullah\/Huw Evans Agency)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Here are your latest rugby evening headlines for Tuesday, July 7.<\/p>\n<p>Rees-Zammit told to &#8216;work harder&#8217; to end dry spell<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit has been told he might need to work a little harder against Argentina this weekend as the 25-year-old bids to end his longest dry spell in Test rugby.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It&#8217;s now been six matches for Wales since Rees-Zammit last dotted down, which is the longest he&#8217;s had to wait throughout his 41-cap career so far. Five of those matches were at full-back, with the Bristol Bears man switched back to his favoured wing to face Fiji last weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Despite that, he managed just a couple of carries in the 39-24 victory, being replaced by Ellis Mee before the hour-mark.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Former Wales wing Alex Cuthbert believes that there could be more opportunities against Argentina this weekend, but added that Rees-Zammit might need to go looking for more work himself.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I thought he did pretty well in the air,&#8221; said Cuthbert on the Scrum V podcast. &#8220;Watching Scotland against Argentina, they got around them a lot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;We&#8217;re going to need to use him a lot. He&#8217;s probably going to have to work a little harder to make that extra number.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;You watch Darcy Graham, Scotland were finding those extra numbers. Argentina were all sorts in defence. It&#8217;s how do you get him (in the game) because he&#8217;s one of our potent attackers?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;How do you get him and Eddie James in the game? We didn&#8217;t see enough of him really.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Wales vs Japan VIP and hospitality tickets<\/p>\n<p>This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/affiliates\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_Wales-Women-v-Women-Barbarians.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Prices vary<\/p>\n<p>Seat Unique<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"AffiliateContent_content-buy-btn__xWiVO buy-btn\" aria-label=\"Buy button\" href=\"https:\/\/track.webgains.com\/click.html?wgcampaignid=1475915&amp;wgprogramid=306113&amp;clickref=Regionals-football.london&amp;wgtarget=https:\/\/seatunique.com\/sport-tickets\/rugby-union\/wales-rugby-tickets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">Book tickets here<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Seat Unique is offering VIP hospitality tickets for Wales&#8217; Nations Championship matches against New Zealand and Japan in November.<\/p>\n<p>Former Wales U20s star signs new deal<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Former Wales U20s scrum-half Harri Williams has signed a new deal with the <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/all-about\/ospreys\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Ospreys<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The ex-Scarlets half-back joined the Ospreys last season after playing in Australia with Tuggeranong Vikings in the ACTRU Premier Division in Canberra.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The scrum-half featured just once though, featuring for a couple of minutes off the bench against Connacht in March.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Despite his limited minutes, head coach Mark Jones has decided to keep the 23-year-old around for another season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cIt was a season of mixed emotions for me,&#8221; said Williams. &#8220;I picked up a tough injury early on in the season which was difficult, but I managed to get through that and finally make my debut for the club, which was a real privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThe medical team and S&amp;C staff worked really hard to get me in a place to make my first appearance and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for that. Being out with a longer-term injury is never easy, but being around this group of players every day definitely helped me to keep pushing to get back fit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI really want to pay that back this season by improving and helping this team in whatever way I can.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ospreys boss Jones added: \u201cHarri worked extremely hard in training last season, so it was a real shame that he picked up the injury when he did. It says a lot about his character that he was able to get back to a place where he could contribute for us towards the end of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cWith Reuben (Morgan-Williams) and Kieran (Hardy) often away on international duty, it\u2019s important for us to a quality crop of scrum halves, and we feel we definitely have that with Luke (Davies) and Harri both still a part of our playing group.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>England call up duo<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">By Jim van Wijk, Press Association<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Emmanuel Iyogun and Chandler Cunningham-South have been called up to England\u2019s squad for the Nations Championship match against Fiji at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday following more injury withdrawals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Northampton prop Iyogun, who could be in line to make his debut, replaces Beno Obano, while Cunningham-South comes into the squad in place of the injured Cadan Murley.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Obano had come off the bench for the closing stages of England\u2019s 45-21 defeat to South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday, but will now miss the Fiji match because of an unspecified issue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Murley had been forced off during the second half against the Springboks with a shoulder problem.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Tom Roebuck, who was a surprise omission from Steve Borthwick\u2019s original 36-man squad, was called up on Monday to replace George Furbank.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Harlequins-bound full-back Furbank had his appendix removed on Friday while in Johannesburg, and is set to leave hospital to return to the UK on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Full-back Freddie Steward is expected to be available for Saturday\u2019s clash with Fiji in Liverpool after missing the Springboks showdown because of a rolled ankle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">England are also set to face another away Nations Championship fixture against Argentina in Santiago del Estero on July 18.<\/p>\n<p>Rookie props in line for Ireland debuts<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">By Press Association Sport Reporters<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Rookie props Billy Bohan and Sam Illo could be handed Ireland debuts in Saturday\u2019s Nations Championship showdown with Japan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Munster loose-head Jeremy Loughman is unavailable after suffering a head injury in last weekend\u2019s 33-31 victory over Australia, and head coach Andy Farrell may decide to keep his powder dry with tight-head Tadhg Furlong as the eagerly-anticipated clash with New Zealand looms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As a result, Connacht pair Bohan, 20, and 25-year-old Illo could find themselves called upon when Ireland face the Brave Blossoms in Newcastle, New South Wales, and scrum coach John Fogarty is convinced they are ready.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He told a press conference in Sydney on Tuesday: \u201cThere\u2019s a reason they\u2019re here. Both Billy and Sam have performed well throughout the season. They\u2019ve put their hands up and we\u2019re seeing that form in training.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s been brilliant. It\u2019s been exactly what we\u2019d wanted for them. The learnings are huge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cTo be around the other more experienced props and be around Andy (Farrell), Paul (O\u2019Connell), Goody (Andrew Goodman), Johnny (Sexton), Simon (Easterby), and get reviewed and understand what it\u2019s going to take to become an international player, we\u2019re seeing that and I\u2019m sure they\u2019re feeling that throughout the week.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A first cap would complete a remarkable season for Bohan in particular.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The then 19-year-old made his Connacht debut in December and was called into Farrell\u2019s <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/all-about\/six-nations\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Six Nations<\/a> squad in January after injuries to Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle ate into Ireland\u2019s pack resources.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Fogarty said: \u201cHe\u2019s learning the whole time. He\u2019s got a huge appetite to learn, very curious around his bits and pieces. Tadhg Furlong will be the first to tell you that he\u2019s constantly figuring ways out to do things well. So is Billy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cLike I said, he\u2019s got the right mindset to continue to grow. We\u2019ve seen him grow since he got here, so he\u2019s been great. He had more game time under his belt and he had a certain confidence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cWhen we bring guys in, a lot of the time we\u2019re bringing them in to expose them to the level of training, and we want to see them go back and kick on.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cWe want to see them go back and use any little bits that they\u2019ve taken and put it in their game and be consistent, and he has done that \u2013 and he\u2019s found a bit of consistency in what he\u2019s doing around scrum and certainly around the game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cSize-wise, he\u2019s just about perfect. It\u2019s really exciting, but he\u2019s got a lot to learn and he understands that. He\u2019s certainly someone that we\u2019re very excited about. We\u2019ll see how it goes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our<a aria-label=\"[object Object]Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/newsletter-preference-centre\/?view=Solus&amp;mailingListId=e90f3817-255f-4349-881b-d9a4515d3f52&amp;utm_source=solusarticle\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\"> free daily newsletter here<\/a> and our <a aria-label=\"[object Object]Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/L8kRCygN2HM6E7iILK0spC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">WhatsApp channel here<\/a> for all the breaking news.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The latest rugby news and headlines from Wales and beyond Rees-Zammit struggled to make an impact against Fiji(Image:&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":679061,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[22069,26771,5903,101,7168,56,54,55,9015],"class_list":["post-679060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-louis-rees-zammit","tag-ospreys","tag-rugby","tag-sports","tag-todays-updates","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-wales-rugby-team"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/679060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=679060"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/679060\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/679061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=679060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=679060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=679060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}