Louis Rees-Zammit has shown just how rapid he is after coming within touching distance of Wales' fastest man Jeremiah Azu in a 40-metre sprint challenge. The Wales rugby star was put to the test against Azu, the 2025 world indoor 60m champion and the fastest man in Welsh athletics, with both men individually timed over the distance.
While Azu came out on top with a time of 4.54 seconds, Rees-Zammit was hot on his heels, clocking an astonishing 4.59 seconds. The difference between the pair was just five hundredths of a second, underlining the remarkable speed of a player whose blistering pace has long been one of his biggest weapons on the rugby pitch.
Race filmed before Bristol match
The race was filmed prior to Bristol's match against Saracens, which resulted in the rugby star suffering nasty skin burns and calling for artificial pitches to be banned. Rees-Zammit's time was particularly impressive when compared to the man he was chasing. Azu has established himself among the world's elite sprinters, while Rees-Zammit has built his reputation in rugby union before switching sports to pursue a career in American football and then returning.
The challenge also left Rees-Zammit's Bristol Bears team-mates stunned, with their reactions highlighting just how impressive his time was.
World-class credentials
Although Azu claimed bragging rights, Rees-Zammit's performance demonstrated that his raw pace remains exceptional, even when measured against a world champion whose speciality is sprinting. The Wales star has started the season in blistering form, scoring four tries in three matches. Azu is the first Welshman to break the 10-second barrier for the 100m, having run 9.97 seconds, and his credentials make Rees-Zammit's narrow defeat all the more striking.
The sprinter praised Rees-Zammit's technique after watching a highlights reel of his best tries. The pair know each other well, having played together for Cardiff Schools as youngsters.
What the sprinters said
Rees-Zammit, who does two speed sessions a week at Bristol, said: "The first 20 is probably my weakest but when I get going I try and stride out and try and cruise through it."
Azu said: "He's got a great stride length to be fair on a rugby pitch. When he gets going, it is hard to stop him. I love it when he kills the pace and steps back on it. It's good how much control he's got, especially as he has to move direction. The turnover when he gets going and his stride when he's upright is very good."
