‘I WANT TO PUT ON A SHOW FOR FANS’
Rees-Zammit is excited to play at packed Principality
LOUIS REES-ZAMMIT has a bold message for Wales fans ahead of his first time playing in front of them on Saturday.
The young wing built a redhot reputation with a storming first year in international rugby.
His tries powered the Dragons to Six Nations glory and earned him Lions tour selection before his 21st birthday.
But five touchdowns in nine appearances, plus all three in his four Lions outings, came at empty grounds.
A 74,000 Principality Stadium sell-out is an altogether different matter, particularly when the opposition is South Africa.
Just do not expect that to faze the Gloucester star.
“I want everyone to be excited when I get the ball,” said the 20-year-old. “I want to try to put on a show, to make everyone happy. I don’t really feel much pressure. I got myself into this job and I just love it.
“Playing in front of supporters is my dream. The boys tell me it’s the best thing ever to play in a full Principality.” Rees-Zammit, right, was drawn to rugby as a kid by watching Wales’ record tryscorer Shane Williams.
“He was so exciting whenever he got the ball,” he said. “He’s why I play the game. Like him, I want to excite people, do something whenever I get the ball.”
This may be wishful thinking by a young man yet to come up against one of rugby’s southern hemisphere superpowers, let alone the world champions.
In his absence, Wales were hit for a half-century by New Zealand on Saturday and have since seen captain Alun Wyn Jones and Ross
Moriarty added to a growing injury list. Rees-Zammit is still at a time of life when he believes anything is possible.
But he is no fool and has taken steps to protect himself for when the wheel of fortune does turn, on and off the field. Last week he became patron of Sporting Minds UK, a charity with a mission to raise awareness and provide support to enable positive mental health in young sportspeople.
“Luckily I’ve had mainly positive experiences so far,” he said. “People haven’t been having a go at me. But we’re at a moment in time where athletes at the top of their game, like Ben Stokes, are admitting to struggling with their mental health.
“That is life now. I’m sure I will have a few bad games in the future and the pressure will be piled on. Everyone has a phone,Twitter, Instagram.
“All it takes is for one person to post something mean about you. Social media puts a lot of pressure on athletes. If athletes right at the top are struggling, it tells you something.”
Sporting Minds UK is a registered charity that provides and promotes mental health support to young sportspeople. For more information or to access the free, confidential one-to-one support, go to www.sportingmindsuk.org