Welsh speedster Louis Rees-Zammit has revealed that he is quicker than ever and reaching numbers that rival Usain Bolt in a warning to his World Cup rivals.
Rees-Zammit has garnered a big following for his unbelievable speed, but believes he is getting even quicker as Wales bid to go further than their semi-final finish in 2019.
Wales are in Pool C, with Australia, Fiji, Georgia and Portugal.
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The 22-year-old will be making his tournament debut in France, having already played for the British & Irish Lions in the 2021 tour of South Africa.
Best against best? 🇿🇦v🇳🇿@mark_keohane and Zels preview the heavyweight clash between the Boks and All Blacks, but it's not your typical encounter👀 pic.twitter.com/YkagmXoGU6
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) August 22, 2023
Speaking to the media in the UK, Rees-Zammit revealed that currently at full flight he covers 10.8m a second. Legendary Olympic sprinter Bolt averaged 10.44m per second from a standing start in his record 100m run in 2009.
“The numbers show that I’m quicker,” Rees-Zammit said. “We’ve got some very quick players in this team. Rio [Dyer], Josh [Adams], the whole back three. Mason Grady is rapid as well and the nines are quick. We’ve got great pace in this team.
“We’ve been working really hard on our attack. I think when we work through the phases it allows us to get into the game a little more.
“That’s ultimately when we can get our hands on the ball a little more and hopefully show the world what we can do.”
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Wales have been put through their paces in training camps in the Swiss Alps and Turkey in the build-up to the World Cup.
“Being fit, you’re able to repeat a lot more,” Rees-Zammit said. “In international rugby there is a lot of kicking and being able to repeat sprints and then have one opportunity in the 80th minute, you need to take advantage of it.
“Hopefully, I can keep showing everyone how fast I am.”
Photo: Christiaan KOTZE / AFP