5 Facts on Louis Rees-Zammit
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Breaking into the Wales team while still a teenager, Rees-Zammit's rapid rise led to Warren Gatland selecting the winger in his squad for the British & Irish Lions 2021 tour.
He is the youngest member of the squad travelling to South Africa.
Here are a few facts on the 20-year-old.
1. Youngster
At 18 years and 70 days, Rees-Zammit is the youngest Gloucester player to ever appear in a Gallagher Premiership match, coming off the bench with four minutes left of a 27-23 win over West Country rivals Bath.
On 28 December 2019 he scored three tries for Gloucester against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens – becoming the youngest-ever scorer of a Premiership hat-trick.
2. Date
He also once dated Paul Scholes’s daughter, and revealed the Manchester United legend tried to convince him to play for England.
3. Rejection
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At 12 he was told by Cardiff Blues he wasn’t good enough to make it as a pro rugby player, while at 16 and studying at Hartpury College he was told he’d never win a Wales cap Yet at 18 he had scored five tries in his first three starts for Gloucester and by 19 had played in four Tests for Wales.
4. Nickname
He’s known by many as Rees-Lightning play on his rapid speed and ‘Grease Lightning’ from the famous American musical.
5. Bet
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His brother, Taylor Rees-Zammit placed a bet in 2017 that his sibling would be chosen for this summer’s tour of South Africa. As a result, he picked up almost £1,000, according to a report from The Rugby Paper.
His older brother hasn’t missed a game his brother Louis has played, home or away, for the past three years.