The label was pinned on the Bristol wing after the new Wales coach brought Rees-Zammit back into international rugby at the first opportunity.
The 24-year-old was named in Tandy’s first squad since his summer appointment, along with the fellow returners from exile, Saracens prop Rhys Carre and Cardiff No.10 Callum Sheedy.
Rees-Zammit’s swift comeback comes after just three starts this season for his new club and follows his 18-month absence where he tried his hand at becoming an NFL star.
Having opted to return to rugby three months ago, Rees-Zammit is now poised to earn his 33rd cap against Argentina on November 9, two years and seven days after his 32nd.
Asked whether Rees-Zammit was a different player following his stint in the NFL - where he did not play a competitive match - Tandy said: “I think we’re getting a special athlete and a special mindset to try something new.
“Most people are probably not brave enough to try something different so that tells you a lot.
“He says he’s faster and bigger, so that’s good for us to hear.
"We’ve got to build a game where we can get him in the game more often. Not just him, but we’ve got lots of other exciting players. It’s how we can create the game to get them the ball more."
“Zammo, when you get someone of the quality of him back, the way he’s come back in, you see what he can do. The learnings he’s had from NFL, He was always going to be back in the squad."
Rees-Zammit returned to rugby by signing a season-long deal at Bristol in August – and Tandy has included him in a 39-strong squad for November Tests against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa, despite missing the Bears’ last two games with a foot injury.
Given his profile, the Welsh Rugby Union have already started to use images of Rees-Zammit within their marketing for the four-match Quilter Nations series.
Tandy acknowledged that Rees-Zammit’s global appeal transcends that of the remainder of his squad but added: “It’s more about the rugby.
“But it’s using his experiences. People want to come watch him. It’s about us connecting to the public. We know how important rugby is for our nation, but also youngsters seeing them is massive.
READ MORE: Louis Rees-Zammit Back for Wales, Plus "Exiled" Rhys Carre, With Recall for Callum Sheedy
"As a rugby fan, I know what it means to support Wales. The more we can connect that, the better. We’ve got some other superstars. Jac Morgan is a British and Irish Lion. We’ve got some real great quality. It’s tapping into the whole."
Morgan returns and skippers the side having missed the summer tour to Japan to play for the Lions in Australia.
Dewi Lake led the side in the Far East when Wales won the second game to draw the series 1-1, ending a run of 18 successive Test defeats.
Tandy said: “Jac was captain for the Six Nations and then Dewi did a brilliant job on the summer tour when Jac was with the Lions.
“I think we’ve got a couple of really good young leaders coming through, but I feel Jac, he’s just an amazing player, an amazing human being.
“I feel he’s going to go from strength to strength as a captain for our nation and also been underpinned by some young leaders like Dewi and Daf Jenkins.”
For Carre, the return may have come as a surprise - not because he has not been in form for Saracens - he has been - but he would not have known he was eligible.
The prop was ineligible under the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) selection policy because he has 20 caps - five short of the required number for those playing for clubs outside Wales.
But in its statement confirming the squad, the WRU said Carre had been "included following confirmation by the Professional Rugby Board that he is eligible for Wales selection".
No more details have been given, but it’s understood Carre was judged to have not been given a fair contract offer to remain in Wales, when he opted to leave Cardiff two years ago.
Under changed regulations, Carre would have been available for England, Ireland or Scotland come next February but Tandy denied his move was to block out those alternatives before the next Six Nations.
“My thinking was he’s playing really well for Saracens. I never want to be a coach who just captures people.
“That’s not the way to look at it or the way I want to work. For me, Rhys is playing well and we can’t overlook the fact he’s playing for one of the top clubs in Europe and having a massive impact.
“He seems to be really enjoying his rugby. You’ve seen the way he’s played – not only the set-piece stuff but the dynamism. You saw at the weekend in the 79th minute he made a break down the wing and offloaded inside.
“For me, it’s all about the rugby and that’s the most important bit. He’s a quality rugby player playing at the highest level.
“He’s passionate to play and we’re excited to have him back. I’ve given him feedback on his game and I’ve talked to him as well.
“He’s excited to be part of the autumn and that’s the biggest part for me.”
WALES SQUAD FOR 2025 QUILTER NATIONS SERIES
Forwards (22)
Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 15 caps)
Adam Beard (Montpellier – 58 caps)
Liam Belcher (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 2 caps)
Rhys Carre (Saracens / Saraseniaid – 20 caps)
Ben Carter (Dragons / Dreigiau – 13 caps)
Brodie Coghlan (Dragons / Dreigiau – uncapped / heb gap)
Christian Coleman (Dragons / Dreigiau – 1 cap)
Rhys Davies (Ospreys / Gweilch – 3 caps)
Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 109 caps)
James Fender (Ospreys / Gweilch – uncapped / heb gap)
Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby / Caerfaddon – 8 caps)
Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 23 caps)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys / Gweilch – 22 caps)
Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 7 caps)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys / Gweilch – 23 caps)
Morgan Morse (Ospreys / Gweilch – uncapped / heb gap)
Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 8 caps)
Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 56 caps)
Danny Southworth (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – uncapped / heb gap)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys / Gweilch – 42 caps)
Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – 4 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons / Dreigiau – 59 caps)
Backs (17)
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 63 caps)
Jacob Beetham (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 1 cap)
Rio Dyer (Dragons / Dreigiau – 23 caps)
Dan Edwards (Ospreys / Gweilch – 4 caps)
Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 11 caps)
Kieran Hardy (Ospreys / Gweilch – 25 caps)
Joe Hawkins (Scarlets – 5 caps)
Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby / Caerfaddon – uncapped / heb gap)
Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – 8 caps)
Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys / Gweilch – 1 cap)
Blair Murray (Scarlets – 10 caps)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears / Bryste – 32 caps)
Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 11 caps)
Callum Sheedy (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 16 caps)
Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 14 caps)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens / Saraseniaid – 41 caps)
Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – 64 caps)
