Rees-Zammit helps athletes cope with mental pressure
LIONS and Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit has become patron of the mental health charity, Sporting Minds UK.
Rees-Zammit has been working for the organisation since its inception in November 2019 as an ambassador and says they have helped over 900 athletes cope with the mental pressures associate with sport.
“The good thing with sporting minds is it is not just professionals. If you are in Uni and you play sport and you’ve got mental health issues, we are there to support you. We’ve helped over 900 athletes so far,” he said.
“Most of the athletes now are under 21. People are addressing it at a young age, because mental health is just as important as physical health.
“I know a few boys in my team who have experienced mental health issues. There is a lot of pressure on sports people – selection and injuries … there are loads of things that can affect your health. Seeking help early is the best thing you can do.”
For someone who shot to fame so quickly, Rees-Zammit, 20, has a very mature head on young shoulders.
However, the Gloucester speedster recognises it could be different if he didn’t have such a supportive family around him.
Having moved from Cardiff to Hartpury College as a 16-year-old, he was struck by homesickness the moment he arrived.
“I am so close to my family, they’re literally by my side, 24-7, and are always there if I need help,” he said.
“For people at Uni and stuff that are away from their families for however long and may have some issues, we are there to help them
“That first day at Hartpury wasn’t great for me and I am very grateful to my dad who kept pushing me along. If I didn’t carry on I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.
On the Lions tour, Rees-Zammit was living the dream even though he failed to break into the Test side.
But he recognises that COVID-secure bubbles have intensified the pressures on sportsman, especially on long trips away from home.
“Training and stuff like that is so full on it is only on days off that you think about missing your family and stuff,” he said.
“Bubbles are very hard, especially for someone like me who is so close to my family, to be 12 hours away from them on a plane. I kept facetiming them otherwise I would have struggled.”
While it was a Lions tour like no other with no fans and very little touring,
Rees-Zammit still looks back on the summer fondly.
“It was obviously an unbelievable experience, especially doing it in my first season, but it was a shame we couldn’t do the off-field experiences like safaris and things like that.
“It was good to meet all the boys who you’re used to playing week in week out and to get to know them as people and friends was amazing.”
Rees-Zammit admits to being “gutted” about not being able to play against the All Blacks due to his Premiership commitments, but is looking forward to being involved in next Saturday’s clash with South Africa.
“We know South Africa are the best team in the world at the minute so it is definitely going to be a tough test.”
Sporting Minds UK is a registered charity that provides and promotes mental health support to young sports people. For more information or to access the free, confidential oneto-one support, go to www. sportingmindsuk.org”