Matthew Rees
Wales
player portrait
Full name Matthew Rees
Born December 9, 1980, Tonyrefail
Current age 43 years 101 days
Major teams Barbarians, British and Irish Lions, Cardiff Blues, Scarlets, Welsh Possibles, Wales
Position Hooker
Height 6 ft 2 in
Weight 240 lb

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 2005-2014 63 50 13 10 2 0 0 0 24 38 1 38.88
Wales 2005-2014 60 48 12 10 2 0 0 0 23 36 1 39.16
British and Irish Lions 2009-2009 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 33.33
Five/Six Nations 2007-2013 25 19 6 5 1 0 0 0 15 10 0 60
IRB Rugby World Cup 2007-2007 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 33.33

Career statistics
Test debut United States of America v Wales at Hartford, Jun 4, 2005 match details
Last Test South Africa v Wales at Nelspruit, Jun 21, 2014 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list
Profile

Rees made his international debut against the USA during Wales' North American tour in 2005, winning a second cap against Argentina in 2006.

He was included in the Wales squad for the 2006 autumn internationals, starting against Canada and Australia. Rees came to the fore during the 2007 Six Nations, beginning the tournament as a replacement before claiming the starting spot for games against Italy, France and England.

Rees was due to be rested from the Wales squad to tour Australia in the summer of 2007, but flew out for the first Test due to injury porblems before flying home to see the birth of his first child.

Rees made three appearances at the 2007 World Cup, playing against Canada, Australia and Fiji before he played a part in Wales' Grand Slam success during the 2008 Six Nations.

Rees was selected for Wales' 2008 autumn internationals, and started games against South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

Selected for the 2009 Lions tour of South Africa and came on as a replacement for Lee Mears in the first Test defeat in Durban. Rees started the two remaining Tests as the Lions lost the series 2-1.

Rees featured in all four of Wales' autumn internationals that November but injury saw him miss his country's opening three games in the 2010 Six Nations. However, he returned for the final two Championship games and also toured New Zealand later that year.

He was handed the captaincy at his regional side the Scarlets in the summer and was later given the leadership duties at international level - leading Wales into their November internationals against Australia and South Africa with regular skipper Ryan Jones sidelined through injury.

And when Jones was officially stripped of the captaincy in the wake of a dismal team performance against Fiji, Rees took the armband for the final clash of the year against New Zealand.

Rees kept the armband throughout the 2011 Six Nations and looked set to lead Wales into the World Cup. However, a neck complaint ruled the hooker out of contention.

It was originally suggested he may have gone to the tournament - along with Gethin Jenkins - having played no warm-up Tests. Though this was officially ruled out when it became apparent that Rees would have to undergo the surgeon's knife.

Rees struggled for fitness throughout the bulk of the 2011-12 season but recovered in time to play in the final two matches of the 2012 Six Nations campaign - which ended in Wales' famous Grand Slam.

Latest Articles
Matthew Rees hit with seven week ban for stamp on Nick Easter (Nov 25, 2015) Rees confirmed as Cardiff skipper (Aug 22, 2014) Matthew Rees targets World Cup place (Apr 3, 2014) Rees back on Blues duty after cancer all-clear (Mar 26, 2014) Matthew Rees gets all clear for rugby return (Feb 12, 2014) Matthew Rees news and articles (70) »
Latest Photos
Aug 23, 2013
Matthew Rees has words with Dwayne Peel
Matthew Rees has words with Dwayne Peel
©  Getty Images
Feb 2, 2013
Wales' Matthew Rees feels the full force of Irish tackling
Wales' Matthew Rees feels the full force of Irish tackling
©  Getty Images
Dec 8, 2012
Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees looks on against Exeter Chiefs
Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees looks on against Exeter Chiefs
©  Getty Images
Nov 24, 2012
Wales' Matthew Rees carries forward
Wales' Matthew Rees carries forward
©  PA Photos
Matthew Rees rugby photos (24) »

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