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Gloucester explain why Rees-Zammit at No15 was a one-off just for now

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

New Gloucester boss George Skivington has explained why wing wunderkind Louis Rees-Zammit started in the unfamiliar position of full-back last weekend while he attempts to finish the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership season as the tournament’s top try scorer.   

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The uncapped Wales prospect was benched for Gloucester’s restart match versus Worcester, but he made a try-scoring appearance off the bench after new signing Jonny May was concussed early in that game at Sixways. 

Rees-Zammit then started last Friday versus Bristol at full-back and after the Gloucester defence couldn’t cope with a decisive first-half onslaught at Kingsholm, the 19-year-old has now reverted to a winger role against Saracens on Wednesday night. 

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His 14 starts for Gloucester before the 2019/20 league and cup campaign was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic had all come on the wing under former coach Johan Ackermann, but Skivington claimed the expansion of the youngster’s horizons was no major drama. 

“It’s not necessarily a move to convert him to a full-back,” he explained at the club’s media conference reported by gloucestershirelive.co.uk prior to the trip to Allianz Park. “We are very fortunate in the back three players we have at Gloucester.

“There are a few top-quality players there and I expect that to be a real battle over this period and next season as to who ends up getting the starting shirts.

“It’s just a string to his bow that would benefit him and he is only a youngster and the more you can learn by playing a couple of different positions the more he will hone his skills.”

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Currently on eighth tries for the league season, Rees-Zammit is tied at the top of the Premiership’s leading try-scorers list with Bristol duo Ben Earl and Luke Morahan, with Ollie Hassell-Collins of London Irish and Wasps’ Zach Kibirige a try further back on seven. 

 

 

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J
JW 17 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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