Rees-zammit’s impressive rise comes as no surprise to Guest
Alex Guest is not in the least bit surprised that Louis Reeszammit has made a blockbusting impact on Test match rugby.
As Gloucester Rugby's junior academy manager, Guest worked closely with the Wales wing sensation after he arrived in the west country as a 16-year-old Hartpury College student.
And, in the space of four remarkable years, Rees-zammit has gone from starting his rugby apprenticeship to graduating on the Guinness Six Nations stage by scoring a stunning match-winning try for Wales against Scotland.
He is also being widely tipped to tour South Africa with the British and Irish Lions this summer, if that three-test tour takes place.
Guest, though, knew from the moment he witnessed Reeszammit's raw talent that he could be something special.
"We'd had Louis in for a couple of sessions with the junior academy at Gloucester, and then he played for our under17s against Cardiff Blues under-18s," Guest said.
"We put him at outside centre, and on a plastic pitch with lots of space, he just absolutely tore it up. We knew early doors that he had something exciting. He is a thoroughbred, and his attitude and willingness to understand about what needed to happen to go the next level, you couldn't fault it. When I was coaching him, I probably frustrated him at times. But that's my role, to check and challenge his understanding of skills and when appropriate to use them.”
Rees-zammit, who only turned 20 a fortnight ago, has played just 33 games for Gloucester and Wales.