8 across
Rees-Zammit,
say,
and
his
team
that
once
ruled
3
(5,2)
Rees-Zammit, say, and his team that once ruled 3 (5,2)
hints
0
checks
0
hints
The definition is at the end of the clue.
How the clue works
Right, so that once ruled 3 is your definition — remember "3" here isn't a number, it's pointing you at the answer to 3 down, which turns out to be FRANCE, so we're after a French monarch. For the wordplay, "Rees-Zammit, say" nudges you towards Louis Rees-Zammit, the rugby player, and you just want his forename, LOUIS. Then "his team" gives you a rugby side, an XV, and stick that after LOUIS and you've got your old French king.