Rees-Zammit set to be axed by Wales for England game - reports

Wayne Pivac is reportedly set to explode a Guinness Six Nations selection bombshell on Thursday by axing Louis Rees-Zammit from his Wales matchday 23 for this Saturday’s round three match away to England in London. The 21-year-old, who last summer toured South Africa with Warren Gatland’s Lions, has been a regular selection since making an October 2020 debut away to France. 

The youngster went on to start in eight of Wales’ nine games 2020/21 Autumn Nations Cup and Six Nations campaigns and since his return from the Lions, he has started in five of his country’s six Autumn Nations and Six Nations games. However, that run of selection is now set to dramatically end according to reports coming out of Wales on Wednesday morning. 

Pivac is set to confirm his Wales team to face England at 11:30am Thursday and the headline pre-announcement speculation is that the name of Rees-Zammit will be nowhere to be seen on the teamsheet. Instead, rather than running out at Twickenham for his country, the winger will be released back to Gloucester for their Gallagher Premiership away to Leicester on Saturday. 

WalesOnline have reported: “Any England-based players are required to return to their club sides if not involved in the matchday squad, as is the case with Rees-Zammit. With Josh Adams having recovered from injury, it now seems likely that he will take his place in the side alongside winger Alex Cuthbert.

“Despite the impressive performance of Ospreys winger Cuthbert against Scotland in his first Six Nations start in five years, this is still quite a selection bombshell from Wayne Pivac. While Rees-Zammit hasn't recently hit the heights he previously hit last year, his place in the squad had looked relatively assured until recently, However, Pivac has seemingly seen fit to dispense with his services to deal with the threats of Eddie Jones' England.”