Louis Rees-Zammit has claimed he is even quicker than he was last season and has told the rest of the rugby world to “watch out” for Wales’s blistering collection of wingers and full‑backs.
Warren Gatland, whose crash-ball tactics with the British & Irish Lions in 2017 gave birth to the pejorative term “Warrenball”, has selected an extra player in the backfield in his World Cup squad of 33. One of them, Josh Adams, was the tournament’s top tryscorer four years ago and, in Rio Dyer and Rees‑Zammit, Gatland has a pair of hot-stepping youngsters eager to make a mark in their debut World Cup.
“This is different,” said a beaming Rees-Zammit, who has toured with the Lions and won 27 caps for his country before turning 23. “I’m buzzing.”
Though he would not outright declare himself the fastest in the squad, and swatted away persistent questions with a shy grin, Rees-Zammit did reveal that when in full flight he covers 10.8m a second. For comparison, Usain Bolt averaged 10.44m per second in his record 100m run in 2009 in Berlin, though this was from a standing start.
“The numbers show that I’m quicker,” Rees-Zammit said. “We’ve got some very quick players in this team. Rio [Dyer], Josh [Adams], the whole back three. Mason Grady is rapid as well and the nines are quick. We’ve got great pace in this team.
“We’ve been working really hard on our attack. I think when we work through the phases it allows us to get into the game a little more. That’s ultimately when we can get our hands on the ball a little more and hopefully show the world what we can do.”
Wales have been placed in a tricky group alongside two teams that will look to run the ball from deep. Their opening match against Fiji as well as their third game against Australia could resemble basketball matches with attacks launched from all areas of the pitch.
Improved fitness is at the heart of this speed revolution. Gatland promised to transform an ageing side after his return as Wales head coach at the end of last year and he has pushed his players to be bigger, faster and stronger. A training camp in the Swiss Alps was followed by a warm-weather shift in Turkey which a tanned Rees-Zammit described as “the hardest thing I’ve ever done”.
“Being fit, you’re able to repeat a lot more,” he said. “In international rugby there is a lot of kicking and being able to repeat sprints and then have one opportunity in the 80th minute, you need to take advantage of it. Hopefully I can keep showing everyone how fast I am.”
His inclusion in the squad came as no surprise and yet he still found himself pacing around his lounge on the morning of the announcement. Watching alongside his brother as the moment drew nearer, his mind turned to a childhood dream.
“Growing up in Wales you’re always watching the rugby,” he said. “All these World Cups, they come and go without you playing and now you get the chance to be in one.
“We’ve got two weeks to go. Everyone wants to be playing in that Fiji game and there’s a lot of competition. It starts tomorrow back in training. Hopefully I can get my name in there.”
