It will be nearly two years after his last appearance in the red jersey.
The 24-year-old flyer, who last played for Wales against the Pumas at the 2023 World Cup, looks poised to feature in Steve Tandy’s first match as head coach.
Having spent 18 months pursuing a career in American football, Rees-Zammit is now back in familiar territory and, according to Wales assistant coach Danny Wilson, edging closer to full match fitness.
“He’s kind of in that progression right now,” said Wilson.
“He progressed back last week and he’s had a full training week this week. There are a few boxes to tick but he’s moving in the right direction.
“We’re quite fortunate at the moment that with training last week and this, we’ve got a fit and healthy squad.
“The likes of him and some of the other names back in the squad gives us quite an exciting challenge in how best to select the team for the games moving forwards. He certainly fits that bill.”
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The Bristol Bears winger’s comeback will be one of the headline stories of the opening weekend of the Autumn Nations Series, with Wales supporters eager to see if Rees-Zammit can recapture the explosive pace and finishing touch that made him one of world rugby’s most exciting prospects.
Rees-Zammit stunned the sporting world in early 2024 when he left rugby to pursue an NFL career, joining the Kansas City Chiefs’ international player pathway programme before later moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Despite impressing coaches with his athleticism, the adjustment proved awkward and he did not play a competitive game, before returning to rugby in August, signing for Bristol.
READ MORE: Louis Rees-Zammit Is Upbeat on Fitness as Wales Prepare for Argentina Test
His reintroduction to Welsh rugby has been threatened by a toe injury sustained against Saracens on 4 October, but his recovery has gone smoothly and he is now expected to feature in Cardiff.
Rees-Zammit’s comeback coincides with the dawn of a new era for Wales under head coach Steve Tandy.
The Tonmawr-born former Ospreys coach, who spent six years as Scotland’s defence specialist, has returned home to lead Wales into a challenging run of fixtures.
Tandy’s first month in charge will see Wales face Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and world champions South Africa — a formidable sequence that will immediately test his side’s depth and adaptability.
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“The boys have come in buzzing and trained really well — there’s huge enthusiasm,” Wilson said.
“It’s a new coaching group and we’ve made some changes to the way things have been done day to day with scheduling.
“It has a kind of fresh feel about it and I think the boys have trained with a real spring in their step.
“They are an amazing bunch in terms of how passionate they are to get better, how passionate they are to take on the way this Welsh group of players and this Welsh squad will look to play.”
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Wales will be aiming to build on their 1-1 summer series draw against Japan — which ended the team’s 18-game losing streak — as they prepare for a demanding international window.
“Obviously we want to build on the win in Japan and go from there,” Wilson added.
“We’re at the start of a journey with a number of different people and the quicker we can become cohesive as a coaching group and a playing group, we can make those important connections on and off the field.
“It will lead towards performances and hopefully the results we are all desperate to see us get back to.”
Wilson also praised Tandy’s leadership and his hands-on approach to coaching.
“He’s still a hands-on coach. That’s first and foremost with Steve,” he said.
“I worked with Steve for a period of time with Scotland and I know the detail he brings in his areas and holistically to the programme.
“He is very experienced in international rugby and a very caring and connecting coach - a relationship coach – and I think that’s very important as well.
“He does that better than most and on top of that, the role of a head coach is to kind of put his stamp on the overall environment and he’s already done that.
"I'm pleased to be working with him again. He's first of all a very good man but a good coach as well."
