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Louis Rees-Zammit is in line for an international rugby comeback for Wales next month 21 months after abandoning the sport to try his luck in American football. Rees-Zammit, now 24, is among 39 players named in the first squad to be picked by the new national head coach, Steve Tandy.
The British & Irish Lions wing, who won the most recent of his 32 caps at the 2023 World Cup, made the switch to American football in January 2024 but ended up not featuring in a competitive NFL game. He returned to union in August when he joined the English Prem side Bristol.
Rees-Zammit has missed the Bears’ last two games with a foot injury but is not expected to be a long-term absentee. Wales are due to kick off their autumn Test campaign against Argentina on 9 November before facing Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
Tandy, previously Scotland’s defence coach, has also selected Saracens’ Rhys Carré, previously barred from representing Wales under the rule that demands that players based outside the country require at least 25 caps to be eligible. Carré has made 20 appearances but now requalifies on the basis he was not offered a decent deal to stay in Wales when he moved back to north London in 2023.
There are five uncapped players, with the Dragons hooker Brodie Coghlan, the Ospreys lock James Fender and the back-row Morgan Morse, the Cardiff prop Danny Southworth and the Bath centre Louie Hennessey all making a squad led by the flanker Jac Morgan.
“It’s been really exciting going through the whole process and realising how many good players we’ve got,” said Tandy. “There’s a really good mix of some young guys coming in, mixed with some experience as well. But the overall feeling is really exciting and I can’t wait to get the boys into camp on Monday.”
The long-serving Racing 92 lock Will Rowlands, capped 41 times by his country, will not be involved and has announced his retirement from international rugby. Cam Winnett and Keelan Giles were unavailable for selection because of injury.
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Gregor Townsend has announced a 45-man Scotland squad including three uncapped forwards in the form of Edinburgh’s Liam McConnell and Harri Morris and Montpellier’s Alexander Masibaka. Edinburgh’s Magnus Bradbury is also back in contention for a first Test cap since 2022. Scotland will start their campaign against the USA before facing New Zealand, Argentina and Tonga.
