Louis Rees-Zammit declared Bristol ‘the obvious choice’ and said the ambitious Bears were perfect for him on and off the field as he confirmed his rugby return.
After 18 months in the NFL with Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, Rees-Zammit is now back in the sport in which he made his name.
On Thursday night, Bristol confirmed the signing of the Wales wing – one forecast by Daily Mail Sport on Wednesday – ahead of the new Prem Rugby season.
The 24-year-old has signed a one-year contract at Ashton Gate with immediate effect and is then set to join rugby’s rebel league R360 for its slated start date of September 2026.
‘Bristol was the obvious choice for me,’ Rees-Zammit said.
‘The style of rugby the team play – all about entertaining the fans and growing the game – perfectly aligns to how I want to play and how I express myself on and off the field.
‘I want to get fans out of their seats, create exciting moments, and help people fall in the love with the game.
‘I’m excited to return to rugby at a club that demands those values.
‘I’m looking forward to working with my team-mates, Pat Lam and the coaches and all the backroom team to bring success to the Bears.’
Prior to his shock USA switch in January last year, Rees-Zammit had played all his club rugby with Bristol’s West Country rivals Gloucester.
Although he hasn’t played the 15-man game professionally for 18 months, his arrival is a significant one for the ambitious Bears who have a track record of innovation.
Their signing of Rees-Zammit fits both parties to a tee. The player can make the short commute from his home city of Cardiff and bed back into rugby with a team that will suit his style of play down to the ground.
From Bristol’s perspective, they get a fine player hungry to prove his worth after a short sabbatical.
Rees-Zammit will also add to Bristol’s commercial appeal, particularly for their game with Harlequins which will take place in Cardiff later this upcoming season.
Rees-Zammit is no vanity deal, however. He is a proven try machine with 14 in 32 Tests for Wales and 42 in 77 games for Gloucester.
Rees-Zammit’s Bristol move will also help him to be in top form for his slated Wales return which will come in their November Tests.
Bristol director of rugby Lam said: ‘Louis is a world-class player and we’re thrilled to welcome him back to rugby union and to the Bears this season.
‘Although we have a small squad, we’ve been building quality depth and experience across the team, bringing in players who can cover multiple positions to help us take that next step in the Prem and in Europe.
‘Louis offers exactly that to our dynamic back three, with his ability and desire to play both full-back and wing for the Bears.
‘He has the drive and ambition to be one of the best back-three players in the world and his goals align perfectly with our ambitions as a club.’
