Louis Rees-Zammit’s return to rugby delayed as Bristol make decision | Rugby | Sport

Bristol’s head coach Pat Lam has named Louis Rees-Zammit on the bench for his first rugby match in 18 months, meaning fans will have to wait for his return to the sport. The Welsh international shocked the sporting world when he left rugby on the eve of the 2024 Six Nations to pursue a career in the NFL.

Despite stints with Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars over an 18-month period, things didn’t pan out, and the former Gloucester player is now back in the Premiership with the Bears. They will face Sale Sharks on Saturday in their Premiership Rugby Cup opener.

The 24-year-old has already impressed his new team-mates with his skills during training and is set to have his first proper run-out ahead of the new season.

Rees-Zammit will start the game on the bench, but he isn’t the only Welshman in the squad, with up-and-coming talents Joe Jenkins and Aidan Boshoff named in the starting XV.

Boshoff, a Wales Under-20s international, is highly regarded at Ashton Gate, having made his debut for the club at just 17 years old. Although originally from Wales, winger Boshoff grew up in South Africa before moving back to the UK.

For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our WhatsApp community here.

Meanwhile, Jenkins will start in midfield and is another player insiders are excited about. Former Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made trips to watch him play, and while he has represented England at Under-20 level, he also qualifies for Wales.

Born in Halifax, Jenkins is eligible to play for Wales due to his father’s family originating from Llanharan.

Efforts have already been made to entice him back to the Welsh team.

Ahead of the match, Lam said: “The most important thing is to build cohesion heading to the PREM game [at home to Leicester Tigers on September 28), but this is also a meaningful fixture and the win matters.

“It is something different that we have never done in the PREM before and we are certainly approaching it like a proper game, rather than a pre-season game, because it is with just 23 players able to play.”

The match gets underway at 3pm on Saturday.

Sale Sharks: 15.Ollie Davies, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Rob du Preez ©, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Obi Ene, 10. Tom Curtis 9. Nye Thomas; 1. Simon McIntyre, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. James Harper, 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Dan du Preez.

Replacements: 16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. Patreece Bell, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Jos Gilmore, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Tristan Woodman.

Bristol Bears: 15. Josh Carrington (debut), 14. Aidan Boshoff (3 apps), 13. Joe Jenkins (26 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (50 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (59 apps), 10. AJ MacGinty (53 apps), 9. Kieran Marmion (52 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (169 apps), 2. Harry Thacker (133 apps), 3. George Kloska (65 apps), 4. Joe Owen (35 apps), 5. Joe Batley (75 apps), 6. Luka Ivanishvili (debut), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (97 apps), 8. Ben Grondona (20 apps).

Replacements: 16. Tomas Gwilliam (5 apps), 17. Sam Grahamslaw (12 apps), 18. Lovejoy Chawatama (5 apps), 19. Kenzie Jenkins (3 apps), 20. Kofi Cripps (3 apps), 21. Max Pepper (debut), 22. James Williams (55 apps), 23. Louis Rees-Zammit (debut).