Louis Rees-Zammit set for position switch as coach says he's getting 'better and better' | Wales Online

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Louis Rees-Zammit could be moved off the wing by new coach Pat Lam, with the Bristol Bears boss admitting he could play the Wales international at full-back at some point this season.

The 24-year-old has only worn the No.15 jersey seven times in his career. He started three games at Test level in the position and featured there in two EPCR Challenge Cup games in his final season with Gloucester before quitting rugby to try and start a new career in the NFL.

Having now returned to rugby with the Bears, Rees-Zammit has already shown flashes of the player he was before leaving for the United States and will be hoping to become an integral member of Lam's side as he gets more games under his belt. But while he looks set to start the PREM Rugby season, which kicks off on Thursday night, on the wing, the Welshman has emerged as a "definite option" for the full-back position.

Bristol's established full-backs, Rich Lane and Noah Heward, are both still recovering from injuries, with new signing Tom Jordan starting in the No.15 jersey for their PREM Rugby Cup clash with Gloucester last weekend. The Scotland international has made quite the impression since arriving at Ashton Gate this summer, and can play across the back line, with fly-half and inside and outside centre also options for him.

With Lam having a comparatively small squad at his disposal, Jordan could well be called into action in another position, leaving a gap at full-back. As the Bears' director of rugby told reporters on Wednesday, that gap could well be filled by Rees-Zammit later in the season.

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"He's definitely an option there," said Lam. "The big thing with Louis is he gets more running time in his legs; he is getting better every time. But our back three run a lot and there is a lot of running in our game.

"His number one position is wing, and we'll give him a fair opportunity to get a lot of time in there. But it's something that we'll consider later on down the line as well."

After scoring a try on an eventful first start for the Bears against his old club last weekend, Rees-Zammit is set to make his first appearance of the league season on Sunday, as his side kick off their campaign with a visit from Leicester Tigers.

With the 32-cap international very much in his plans for the curtain-raiser, Lam heaped praise on the Welsh flyer as he claimed he is getting "better and better and better" with each passing day now he is back in rugby.

"He is ready, fit and available," Lam continued. "I am really proud of him. Every day he has got better and better and better. I know that match-wise, he still has a bit more to come, but where he is now compared to where he was when he first arrived is huge.

"The more he trains, the more he plays, naturally, he is going to get fitter. I believe there is still more to come from him in that sense. The Bears and Louis Rees-Zammit are a match made in heaven because of the way he wants to play and the way that we play. It works really well together."

After making his first start in a rugby match for over 18 months, Rees-Zammit told The Rugby Pod that he had an "amazing night" despite being jeered by the home fans at Kingsholm following his shock exit from the Cherry & Whites in January last year.

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"There were a lot of boos on Friday night, put it that way!" he said. "I was getting a lot of hate from The Shed. But it's all part of the game. I had an amazing night. I think because I started that game, I obviously came off the bench and against Sale (Sharks), but to start that Gloucester game, it just felt really good and felt like I was really getting back into rugby.

"I had a couple of decent clips and a lot of stuff to work on as well," he added. "But there's always going to be a little bit of rust if I'm not playing for 18 months."