Rees-Zammit aiming to be 'best in the world' - Lam

Louis Rees-Zammit wants to become "the best back-three player in the world" according to new boss Pat Lam.

The 24-year-old has opted to join Lam's Bristol Bears in England's Prem Rugby after leaving the NFL.

The British and Irish Lion, who has won 32 caps for Wales, has returned to rugby union after 20 months away trying to break into American football.

Rees-Zammit spent time on the training squads of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars after joining the NFL's international player pathway in January 2024, but did not play in a regular-season game.

He returns to his original sport having previously played 77 times for Gloucester after breaking into their side aged 18.

"He wants to get back into rugby and be the best back-three player in the world, and I love that," Lam told BBC Radio Wales' Breakfast programme.

"I just want to know what motivates players. Everyone thinks it's easy, you get paid to play a game we love.

"But ultimately I just want to know what gets guys out of bed to go and put their bodies on the line and do what we do.

"That dream is really important, when guys talk about 'I just want to be a better rugby player' it's probably not the one I'm looking for.

"I'm looking for guys with big dreams and he certainly has that."

Before moving to the United States last year Rees-Zammit had been linked with a switch to a club in France's Top 14.

The winger - who scored 42 tries in his 77 games for Gloucester and 14 tries in 32 Tests with Wales - was widely regarded as one of the standout attacking threats in European rugby.

Lam says Rees-Zammit had a number of proposals for his return, some which were more lucrative than what he was being offered at Ashton Gate.

"What I really enjoyed about the whole thing is that he could have gone anywhere for lots of money," Lam said.

"I know there was big money out there and I'd say our offer is nowhere near what people might think it is.

"What I liked about that is that left it purely on him to decide if he wanted money.

"He probably had four or five other offers that he could take.

"But he wanted a good rugby programme and a style of rugby that gets him back into the game and gives him the best chance to play for Wales again, which is important to him... that was the main thing."