SPEEDSTER Louis Rees-Zammit is still hitting top gear in lockdown in a bid to earn a Wales cap after the disappointment at missing out in the Six Nations.
The Gloucester winger is back living in Cardiff and training in parks because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The 19-year-old was stopped in his tracks after a stunning breakthrough season with the Cherry and Whites, scoring 12 tries in 15 appearances.
His exploits earned a Wales call for the Six Nations but, despite a clamour for Rees-Zammit to get the nod in the championship opener against Italy, he had to be content with a taste of life in Test camp.
Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams, George North, Josh Adams and Johnny McNicholl were used in the tournament while Jonah Holmes, Hallam Amos and Owen Lane are other options for Wayne Pivac.
"It was disappointing not to get a cap during the Six Nations, but hopefully my time will come. When my chance does come I've got to take the opportunity and I'll be ready for it," he said.
Rees-Zammit, Premiership player of the month for December, is the first to acknowledge that he has plenty of learning to do.
"This season has been a good experience for me. I've got used to the Premiership both physically and mentally and every time I get the ball I know I need to make an impact," he said.
"I take it game by game, training session by session. When I'm picked I just give it my all for the team.
"I know I have a lot of work-ons, but they will definitely get better if I keep working on them. Every training session I do extras."
"I've got to keep performing. I can't afford to drop out of the team because I'll have to start all over again then. As long as I keep on top of everything and keep on performing I'll stay in the team," he continued.
"I just try to help the team. Every time I get the ball I try to make an impact, whether that's scoring, assisting or making some yards. That's what I've got to keep doing."
Rees-Zammit caught the eye with his top-end speed and acceleration but insists he is getting even more rapid.
He said: "I'd never done any sprint training before this year and I've never done athletics.
"I've got a lot faster through doing some sprint training and Dan Tobin, the head of strength and conditioning at Gloucester, has been putting together loads of programmes for me.
"I've been doing sprint training after every session and I'm definitely getting faster."
The graft is now taking place in the capital with Rees-Zammit sprinting in Pontcanna Fields close to Principality Stadium, where he first played the game with Llandaff RFC.
"This is the longest I've been without rugby in my whole life. I can't wait to get back to play, whether it is behind closed doors or in front of a crowd," he said.
"Lockdown hasn't been that bad and I haven't found it difficult to motivate myself. I moved into a flat with my elder brother, Taylor, about six weeks ago and we've been training in the park on the same pitches on which I used to play when I was a junior at Llandaff.
"I've been doing 5K runs around Pontcanna Fields and then sprinting on the pitches there. It has been good to see all the pitches on which I started playing – and got all those wins.
"I've been working hard there and going home to my parents' house to do some gym work. I've been keeping up my skills and sprint training and I'll be ready when we get back.
"Hopefully, the season will come back soon because it was a big disappointment it ended when it did. I was on form and so it was annoying to get it cut short."
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