New Wales boss Steve Tandy was caught by surprise by Louis Rees-Zammit’s return to rugby and has not ruled out a rapid autumn Test comeback.
The 24-year-old winger is seeking a club after ending his bid to become a professional American Football player in the NFL.
His tally of 32 caps means that he will be available for Tandy under Wales’ selection policy regardless of his destination.
Wales could potentially have some extra firepower out wide when they take on Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in Cardiff.
“I think you wouldn’t rule anything out. Zammo [Rees-Zammit] brings a big effect and excitement by coming back,” said Tandy.
“I think it’s great for the game. He’s gone away to experience something new, which is class, and I’m sure he will be in outstanding physical condition.”
Wales went with Josh Adams, Tom Rogers and Keelan Giles as wing options on their summer tour, while Rio Dyer, Ellis Mee, Josh Hathaway and Mason Grady are among the other options for November along with Rees-Zammit.
“The more players we have available to represent our country the better. That’s exciting and makes our jobs easier,” said Tandy.
“It will also make our calls on selection a lot more challenging in terms of selection as we’ve already got some very good back-three players. Adding Zammo into that makes it even more exciting for not only us, but the fans as well.”
Former flanker Tandy was confirmed as Wales’ new head coach on 21 July and just 10 days later Rees-Zammit announced his return to rugby.
Tandy was alerted to the news by his 14-year-old daughter, the oldest of three, and the late night social media post started a scramble for his signature.
Rees-Zammit played for Gloucester before his shot at the NFL and is currently weighing up his options for the coming season.
His wage demands and the timing of his return make clubs in France or Japan the leading contenders, while Bristol have also been linked.
The breakaway R360 league is a possibility down the line but Welsh clubs realistically do not have the financial clout to be in the conversation.
However, the winger’s return is likely to boost the Welsh Rugby Union’s (WRU) coffers by driving interest
“I’m over the moon Louis Rees-Zammit is coming back to rugby because it gives us him for the national team. Number one, that’s fantastic news,” said WRU chief executive Abi Tierney.
“The challenge we’ve got is we’re starting the season in September. You can have a look at what different teams are doing with their salary caps and their players.
New Wales boss Steve Tandy was caught by surprise by Louis Rees-Zammit’s return to rugby and has not ruled out a rapid autumn Test comeback.
The 24-year-old winger is seeking a club after ending his bid to become a professional American Football player in the NFL.
His tally of 32 caps means that he will be available for Tandy under Wales’ selection policy regardless of his destination.
Wales could potentially have some extra firepower out wide when they take on Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in Cardiff.
“I think you wouldn’t rule anything out. Zammo [Rees-Zammit] brings a big effect and excitement by coming back,” said Tandy.
“I think it’s great for the game. He’s gone away to experience something new, which is class, and I’m sure he will be in outstanding physical condition.”
Wales went with Josh Adams, Tom Rogers and Keelan Giles as wing options on their summer tour, while Rio Dyer, Ellis Mee, Josh Hathaway and Mason Grady are among the other options for November along with Rees-Zammit.
“The more players we have available to represent our country the better. That’s exciting and makes our jobs easier,” said Tandy.
“It will also make our calls on selection a lot more challenging in terms of selection as we’ve already got some very good back-three players. Adding Zammo into that makes it even more exciting for not only us, but the fans as well.”
Former flanker Tandy was confirmed as Wales’ new head coach on 21 July and just 10 days later Rees-Zammit announced his return to rugby.
Tandy was alerted to the news by his 14-year-old daughter, the oldest of three, and the late night social media post started a scramble for his signature.
Rees-Zammit played for Gloucester before his shot at the NFL and is currently weighing up his options for the coming season.
His wage demands and the timing of his return make clubs in France or Japan the leading contenders, while Bristol have also been linked.
The breakaway R360 league is a possibility down the line but Welsh clubs realistically do not have the financial clout to be in the conversation.
However, the winger’s return is likely to boost the Welsh Rugby Union’s (WRU) coffers by driving interest
“I’m over the moon Louis Rees-Zammit is coming back to rugby because it gives us him for the national team. Number one, that’s fantastic news,” said WRU chief executive Abi Tierney.
“The challenge we’ve got is we’re starting the season in September. You can have a look at what different teams are doing with their salary caps and their players.
New Wales boss Steve Tandy was caught by surprise by Louis Rees-Zammit’s return to rugby and has not ruled out a rapid autumn Test comeback.
The 24-year-old winger is seeking a club after ending his bid to become a professional American Football player in the NFL.
His tally of 32 caps means that he will be available for Tandy under Wales’ selection policy regardless of his destination.
Wales could potentially have some extra firepower out wide when they take on Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in Cardiff.
“I think you wouldn’t rule anything out. Zammo [Rees-Zammit] brings a big effect and excitement by coming back,” said Tandy.
“I think it’s great for the game. He’s gone away to experience something new, which is class, and I’m sure he will be in outstanding physical condition.”
Wales went with Josh Adams, Tom Rogers and Keelan Giles as wing options on their summer tour, while Rio Dyer, Ellis Mee, Josh Hathaway and Mason Grady are among the other options for November along with Rees-Zammit.
“The more players we have available to represent our country the better. That’s exciting and makes our jobs easier,” said Tandy.
“It will also make our calls on selection a lot more challenging in terms of selection as we’ve already got some very good back-three players. Adding Zammo into that makes it even more exciting for not only us, but the fans as well.”
Former flanker Tandy was confirmed as Wales’ new head coach on 21 July and just 10 days later Rees-Zammit announced his return to rugby.
Tandy was alerted to the news by his 14-year-old daughter, the oldest of three, and the late night social media post started a scramble for his signature.
Rees-Zammit played for Gloucester before his shot at the NFL and is currently weighing up his options for the coming season.
His wage demands and the timing of his return make clubs in France or Japan the leading contenders, while Bristol have also been linked.
The breakaway R360 league is a possibility down the line but Welsh clubs realistically do not have the financial clout to be in the conversation.
However, the winger’s return is likely to boost the Welsh Rugby Union’s (WRU) coffers by driving interest
“I’m over the moon Louis Rees-Zammit is coming back to rugby because it gives us him for the national team. Number one, that’s fantastic news,” said WRU chief executive Abi Tierney.
“The challenge we’ve got is we’re starting the season in September. You can have a look at what different teams are doing with their salary caps and their players.
The Hundred men’s competition, Headingley
Welsh Fire 143-9 (100 balls): Bairstow 42 (23); Rashid 2-25
Northern Superchargers 147-2 (89 balls): Crawley 67* (38); Meredith 2-33
Superchargers won by eight wickets
Zak Crawley hit a superb unbeaten 67 from 38 balls as Northern Superchargers raced to an eight-wicket win over Welsh Fire in The Hundred.
Having restricted Fire to 143-9, Superchargers got off to a blistering start as the England opener put on 91 with Dawid Malan, who hit 41 from 29, for the first wicket.
Crawley was given a life on 45 – one of three costly drops from the Fire in the innings – and made the most of his good fortune to reach his highest Hundred score, on his Superchargers debut, to get them over the line with 11 balls to spare.
The Superchargers might have expected to be chasing more on a good surface at Headingley, especially when Jonny Bairstow and Steve Smith got the Fire off to a rapid start with a 62-run stand.
The evening started with a Leeds crowd conflicted as they ‘welcomed’ the Fire opening pair to the crease – cheering Yorkshireman Bairstow before booing former Australia skipper Smith.
But with Bairstow playing for the visitors, there was rather less enthusiasm when he began flaying the ball to all parts of a ground he knows so well.
Smith was going well, too, on his Hundred debut and the two former Ashes foes looked to have Fire well on their way to a big total.
However, when Smith was bowled for 29 trying to reverse scoop Potts, who had Wells caught behind the next ball, momentum began to shift.
Bairstow kept going briefly before he was caught at long-on and the innings fell away.
Superchargers made no such mistake. Crawley and Malan combined for four sixes to take the home side to 52-0 after the powerplay.
Malan, dropped on 28, eventually fell to a Riley Meredith slower ball just past the halfway point of the chase and Michael Pepper was dismissed soon after.
But Andrew Flintoff’s Superchargers remained in control – as emphasised by captain Harry Brook, who came in and clobbered his first ball high over extra cover for six.
Fire could not fight back. Paul Walter put down Crawley shortly before he brought up his half-century from 29 balls and Saif Zaib grassed a skier off Brook when he was on 10.
It’s a midlands derby on Friday as Birmingham Phoenix and Trent Rockets get up and running for the year in another double-header at Edgbaston.
The women’s game starts at 15:00 BST with the men’s match following at 18:30 BST.
The Hundred men’s competition, Headingley
Welsh Fire 143-9 (100 balls): Bairstow 42 (23); Rashid 2-25
Northern Superchargers 147-2 (89 balls): Crawley 67* (38); Meredith 2-33
Superchargers won by eight wickets
Zak Crawley hit a superb unbeaten 67 from 38 balls as Northern Superchargers raced to an eight-wicket win over Welsh Fire in The Hundred.
Having restricted Fire to 143-9, Superchargers got off to a blistering start as the England opener put on 91 with Dawid Malan, who hit 41 from 29, for the first wicket.
Crawley was given a life on 45 – one of three costly drops from the Fire in the innings – and made the most of his good fortune to reach his highest Hundred score, on his Superchargers debut, to get them over the line with 11 balls to spare.
The Superchargers might have expected to be chasing more on a good surface at Headingley, especially when Jonny Bairstow and Steve Smith got the Fire off to a rapid start with a 62-run stand.
The evening started with a Leeds crowd conflicted as they ‘welcomed’ the Fire opening pair to the crease – cheering Yorkshireman Bairstow before booing former Australia skipper Smith.
But with Bairstow playing for the visitors, there was rather less enthusiasm when he began flaying the ball to all parts of a ground he knows so well.
Smith was going well, too, on his Hundred debut and the two former Ashes foes looked to have Fire well on their way to a big total.
However, when Smith was bowled for 29 trying to reverse scoop Potts, who had Wells caught behind the next ball, momentum began to shift.
Bairstow kept going briefly before he was caught at long-on and the innings fell away.
Superchargers made no such mistake. Crawley and Malan combined for four sixes to take the home side to 52-0 after the powerplay.
Malan, dropped on 28, eventually fell to a Riley Meredith slower ball just past the halfway point of the chase and Michael Pepper was dismissed soon after.
But Andrew Flintoff’s Superchargers remained in control – as emphasised by captain Harry Brook, who came in and clobbered his first ball high over extra cover for six.
Fire could not fight back. Paul Walter put down Crawley shortly before he brought up his half-century from 29 balls and Saif Zaib grassed a skier off Brook when he was on 10.
It’s a midlands derby on Friday as Birmingham Phoenix and Trent Rockets get up and running for the year in another double-header at Edgbaston.
The women’s game starts at 15:00 BST with the men’s match following at 18:30 BST.