Bristol Bears have gained the battle to signal Wales celebrity Louis Rees-Zammit after his bid to crack the NFL with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars resulted in failure.
Newcastle Falcons earlier this week stated that Rees-Zammit, 24, wouldn’t be taking part in for them subsequent season, regardless of having money following their takeover by the power drinks big.
Rees-Zammit’s former membership, Gloucester, the place he scored 42 tries in 77 appearances earlier than leaving for America, had been understood to have been supplied first refusal underneath the phrases of his departure 18 months in the past.
Whereas Cardiff had additionally expressed an curiosity, they had been at all times up towards it as soon as Premiership Rugby sides launched a late summer time search out the again of the couch to seek out funds for the signing.
Bristol have this night confirmed the signing, which takes impact instantly.
Rees-Zammit stated: “Bristol Bears was the plain selection for me. The type of rugby the crew play – all about entertaining the followers and rising the sport – completely aligns to how I wish to play and the way I specific myself on and off the sphere.
“I wish to get followers out of their seats, create thrilling moments and assist individuals fall within the love with the sport. I’m excited to return to rugby at a membership that calls for these values. I’m wanting ahead to working with my teammates, Pat Lam and the coaches and all of the backroom crew to deliver success to the Bears.”
Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, stated: “Louis is a world-class participant, and we’re thrilled to welcome him again to rugby union and to the Bears this season.
“Though now we have a small squad, we’ve been constructing high quality depth and expertise throughout the crew, bringing in gamers who can cowl a number of positions to assist us take that subsequent step within the PREM and in Europe. Louis provides precisely that to our dynamic again three, along with his potential and want to play each full again and wing for the Bears.
“He has the drive and ambition to be among the finest back-three gamers on the planet, and his objectives align completely with our ambitions as a membership.
“At simply 24 years outdated, we all know the athlete and competitor he’s. The best way we play and the way in which he needs to play match seamlessly collectively, and we’re wanting ahead to working with him when he joins the group tomorrow.”
He may make his debut when the Bears kick off their season with a go to to Sale Sharks within the Premiership Cup on September 13 earlier than visiting his former membership Gloucester at Kingsholm the next weekend.
Rees-Zammit may have loads of time to get himself again up to the mark, offering he’s totally over the again damage he suffered throughout the Jaguars’ pre-season coaching camp, which helped speed up his return to the UK.
His choice to return to the game earlier within the month was welcomed by new Wales boss Steve Tandy when he met the media in Cardiff final week.
“I’m fairly open-minded, I simply wish to see him taking part in. That’s a very powerful factor, getting him again and him being in an setting he’s actually completely happy in.
“Him being out there is an enormous addition to the squad. You realize he’ll be in sensible form, he’ll be match, and he’s an instinctive rugby participant who does issues actually naturally.
“The training he’s had may have made him a fair higher rugby participant, so it’s, for him, discovering the precise membership and setting, and I’ve little question he’ll be again to the place he was, if not higher,” he advised Sky.
