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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Anthony Woolford

English Premiership rugby presenters curse the fact teen talent Louis Rees-Zammit is Welsh

Louis Rees-Zammit has seen plenty of accolades and plaudits come his way after a stunning one-man show in Gloucester's 36-3 Gallagher Premiership win over Worcester Warriors at the weekend.

The 18-year-old Welsh winger scored two tries and set up another, at Kingsholm, in what could prove to be the performance that launches his career onto the biggest stage of all.

Wayne Pivac names his first Six Nations squad just a couple of weeks into 2020, and Cardiff's Rees-Zammit may well be the headline name that's in it.

His pace is electric, his size already impressive and he clearly has an eye for the try line, as evidenced by his brace against Worcester that had scores of pundits and fans purring.

One of them, former English rugby star Andy Goode, publicly asked the Hartpury College-educated teen if he qualified for England. Rees-Zammit's response - just a Welsh flag emoji -  was as simple and effective as his finishing ability.

And now popular Channel 5 Gallagher Premiership presenters David Flatman and Mark Durden-Smith have been left cursing their luck they'll never see the Wales Under-18s international wear the red rose of England.

Eight-times capped England prop Flatman was so impressed by Rees-Zammit he named him his Gallagher Premiership player of the week and had him in his Dream Team, alongside the likes of England stars Mako Vunipola, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje and George Ford.

He told Premiership Rugby TV: "Louis Rees-Zammit at Gloucester, an 18-year-old rocket of a left winger.

"He has brilliant off-loads and loads of physical bravery. He's your player of the weekend."

And the respected TV pundit was equally as gushing over the Welsh teenager when presenting the Gallagher Premiership highlights from the weekend with Durden-Smith on Channel 5.

He told the show on Channel 5: "He's brilliant, he's electric and he's not just quick, he's brave.

"He smashes his body in there, is skilful with loads of awareness.

"He might be young, he might be a kid in the game, but he's in great form and he's just brilliant to watch."

Dave Flatman and Mark Durden-Smith presenting for Channel 5 in the English Premiership (David Rogers/Getty Images)

That was the good news for Wales and if English rugby fans didn't already know it, the former Saracens and Bath front-rower was about to deliver a body-blow for those supporting Eddie Jones' team.

Looking at Durden-Smith, he said: "Sadly for you and me, he's Welsh, but luckily for Wales he's Welsh.

Durden-Smith, replied: "Speaking on behalf of all Englishmen, dammit Zammit!"

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