Ex-European Cup-winning Bristol captain hails LRZ signing

Former Bristol Bears captain Siale Piutau has hailed the Prem club’s signing of Welsh wing wizard Louis Rees-Zammit.

Auckland-born centre Piutau, 39, who now plays for second division Japanese side Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks, captained the English club to their first European title as they overcame the absence of stars such as his injured younger brother Charles to beat Toulon in the Challenge Cup final in 2020.

The evergreen ex-Tonga captain sees the arrival of the sought-after free agent as a statement of intent from his former club for whom he became a cult hero during his highly-successful four-year stint at Ashton Gate.

“Louis Rees-Zammit is up there as one of the biggest signings in the club’s history and especially for someone that has achieved what he has at such a young age,” Piutau told RugbyJP.

“He’s not yet reached his prime, then to add in the rivalry between Gloucester (his ex-club) that will make it that much sweeter seeing him do well,” added the ex-Wasps centre who represented his country at the 2011, 2015 and 2019 World Cup tournaments.  

Siale Piutau celebrates Bristol's European triumph in 2020 - Picture courtesy of Bristol Bears

Cardiff-born Rees-Zammit, 24, announced on 1 August that he would be ending his 18-month spell in the NFL’s International Pathway Program - after stints with SuperBowl champions Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars - and returning to rugby.

Pat Lam’s Bristol were immediately labelled as the favourites to win the race to sign 2021 British & Irish Lions tourist and unveiled the hot-stepper on Thursday.

LRZ inks his deal at Ashton Gate - Picture courtesy of Bristol Bears

The electrifying wing said the club was the ‘obvious choice’ for his comeback due to their style of rugby and commitment to growing the game.

His new club’s former talismanic leader Piutau, who made six appearances last season and scored a crucial try in the Blue Sharks relegation play-off win against Secom Rugguts, is excited to see the ‘new-look' Welshman in action.  

“LRZ seems to have bulked up from his NFL stint and with his pace and power will add a lot to what the Bears have in to offer, it’s an awesome signing for Bristol.”

39-year-old Piutau in action for the Blue Sharks in Japan - Picture courtesy of JRLO

Piutau left Bristol in 2021 to join his current side and will take on more responsibilities next season as a supervisor to the team’s talented group of foreign players.

His brother and ex-All Black Charles, 33, who is currently preparing to play in the Pacific Nations Cup for Tonga, left Bristol in 2023 to join division one Japanese outfit Shizuoka Blue Revs, another of Siale’s former clubs.

“I have still been following Bristol since I left,” Siale told us.

“It became a lot harder here - trying to stay up for the early morning matches - when my younger brother left and joined Shizuoka, but I still keep in contact with few of the boys there.”

The well-travelled stalwart, who turns 40 in October, still has the desire to keep playing and remains an integral figure both on and off the field at his Tokyo-based club.

“My body still feels great so I will go another season and reassess again after each season. I’m enjoying running around with the boys and competing.”