Rees-Zammit takes 'first of big steps' in comeback

Louis Rees-Zammit played his first rugby minutes in 20 months

Louis Rees-Zammit has made the "first of some big steps" in getting back on the rugby pitch for his first match in 20 months.

The Wales winger played 30 minutes of Bristol Bears' Prem Rugby Cup 24-15 defeat by Sale on Saturday, coming off the replacements' bench in the 50th minute.

The match was the 24-year-old's first in rugby since 13 January 2024 after which he left the sport to pursue a career in American football.

"The positive is he got out there, he got some game time," Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam told BBC Radio Bristol.

"You could see he tried to have a go a couple of times, he's a threat. Unfortunately by the time he came on the rain was coming down for him, but you can see how dangerous he is.

"That's the first step of some big steps he's going to make going through. He got through it, he's happy, I'm happy and we'll move to the next stage."

Rees-Zammit was one of four debutants for Bristol's first match of the new campaign, alongside Georgian international Luka Ivanishvili, full-back Josh Carrington and scrum-half Max Pepper.

Lam added the Welshman would likely feature again in Friday's cup match at his former club Gloucester with the league opener against Leicester the week after on 28 September.

Rees-Zammit spent six years with the Cherry and Whites, scoring 42 tries in 77 matches, before being released to join the NFL's International Player Pathway in January last year.

He confirmed his return to the sport last month and signed with West Country rivals Bristol.

"That's a big confidence builder him just to get back in. Next week he'll get a good chance to take the next step and keep improving," Lam said.

"It's a big journey for him. He'll be involved, we'll just see how we all look when we get back to training."