Dan Rees
Encyclopedia
Daniel "Dan" Rees was a Welsh
international rugby union
centre who played club rugby for Swansea
. Thomas was a twice Triple Crown
winner, after representing Wales during the 1900
and 1905 Home Nations Championship
s. Later in his career he switched to professional rugby league
, joining Hull Kingston Rovers
. He was described as a "speedy threequarter with a deceptive action", and would have won more than his five international caps had he not been in competition with Gwyn Nicholls
for the centre position.
, but switched to first-class side Swansea in 1897. Rees has a long career with Swansea, and from 1901 through to 1905 faced the Barbarians
in each of their Easter tours. During the Barbarian encounters, Rees scored a try
in each of the first four encounters, and three in the fifth. He later became the Swansea senior team's vice-captain during the 1904/05 "invincible" season.
It was while representing Swansea that Rees was first selected to represent Wales, brought into the team to face England in the opening game of the 1900 Home Nations Championship
. Rees was not first choice for the match as in December 1899 the South Wales Daily News released the team sheet for the England vs. Wales encounter to be played on the 6 January, with Gwyn Nicholls as centre. This was presumptuous as Nicholls had been part of the British Isles
team that had recently toured Australia
, and no contact had been made with Nicholls since the final game. On 31 December, a telegram was received stating that Nicholls would not be able to make the first Championship game, and the Welsh Rugby Union
immediately responded with news that Rees would take his place at centre, winning his first cap alongside Swansea team-mate George Davies
. Wales won the game 13-3, with a try from Billy Trew
on the wing, and a forwards try from Dick Hellings
, both converted by captain Billy Bancroft
who also scored a penalty goal. The Athletic News gave the Welsh victory to the pack, dismissing the threequarters, but The Sportsman
wrote "an exposition of the three quarter back game was given which must have satisfied the great Mr Arthur Gould himself". The Thursday after the match, Nicholls arrived back in Britain and was immediately selected for the Welsh team to face Scotland. Despite a victory and some good reviews, Rees lost his place to Nicholls, despite Nicholls having not played a competitive game since the previous August. Some commentators believe that Nicholls played due to worries over his future selection caused by the good press articles the Swansea centres received. Wales won the next two games of the Championship without Rees, though his inclusion in the first game made him a member of the 1900 Triple Crown winning Welsh team.
Nicholls kept his place throughout the 1901 and 1902 Championships, but in December 1902, Nicholls broke his collarbone in an away game against Blackheath F.C.. This ruled him out for the early games of the 1903 Home Nations Championship
, and Rees was once again brought into the national team at threequarters. With injuries also sustained by Teddy Morgan
and Willie Llewellyn
, the Welsh threequarters was hastily constructed, with Swansea's Fred Jowett and a recalled Tom Pearson
taking the wings and Rees partnering the only surviving member of the 1902 team, Rhys Gabe
. Despite losing their captain Pearson to a heavy tackle, the Welsh were rampant against a poor England in the opening match. Playing a man down, Jehoida Hodges
was taken from the pack and placed on the wing to replace Pearson, and duly scored three tries in a 21-3 victory. Rees retained his partnership with Gabe for the next game of the tournament, played away at Inverlieth to Scotland. On a pitch which was waterlogged before kick-off and played under rain swept and windy conditions, Wales lost 6-0. The next game saw the reintroduction of Nicholls, back from injury and Rees once again lost his place to him.
The 1904 Championship began with Nicholls and Gabe at centre for Wales, but when Nicholls was unable to commit to the later stages of the tournament Charlie Pritchard
was brought in rather than Rees. The 1905 Championship
saw Rees reselected with Nicholls now apparently retired. Rees was back in partnership with Gabe at centre, and George Davies was now playing at full back. The Wales team first face England, who were demolished 25-0 by a vastly superior and more skilful Welsh team. The second game was against Scotland, which saw Rees' position as an amateur player queried by some sections of the Scottish sporting establishment. Wales won through two Willie Llewellyn tries, but this was to be Rees' final international. The final game of the tournament was a Triple Crown decider between Wales and Ireland, both having beaten Scotland and England. The match was played at Swansea's home ground, St. Helen's, and Rees had been selected to play, paired as he had been for the last two matches with Rhys Gabe. On the morning of the match, Rees informed the WRU that he was ineligible to play, which would have opened the way for nominated reserve, and Swansea's captain, Frank Gordon
to gain his first international cap. The WRU reacted harshly to this, and reinstated Nicholls as they believed that Rees was following club orders to give their captain an international cap. The St Helen's crowd booed Nicholls and even pelted him with mud and oranges during the team photo, reacting badly to what was a snub to their captain and their team. Despite the ill feeling to Nicholls, Wales still won the game, making Rees, again in his absence, a Triple Crown winner for a second time.
On the 21 October 1905, Rees drew his international career and any arguments of his amateur status to a close when he "Went North"; switching to professional rugby league team Hull Kingston Rovers. Rees was paid a signing on fee of £300 to join Hull, which was the largest fee to a Welsh player prior to World War I.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
centre who played club rugby for Swansea
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
. Thomas was a twice Triple Crown
Triple Crown (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, the Triple Crown is an honour contested annually by the four national teams of the British Isles who compete within the larger Six Nations Championship: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If any one team manages to win all their games against the other three they win the...
winner, after representing Wales during the 1900
1900 Home Nations Championship
The 1900 Home Nations Championship was the eighteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 6 January and 17 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
and 1905 Home Nations Championship
1905 Home Nations Championship
The 1905 Home Nations Championship was the twenty-third series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 14 January and 18 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales....
s. Later in his career he switched to professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
, joining Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
. He was described as a "speedy threequarter with a deceptive action", and would have won more than his five international caps had he not been in competition with Gwyn Nicholls
Gwyn Nicholls
Erith Gwyn Nicholls was a Welsh rugby union player who gained 24 caps for Wales as a centre. Nicholls was known as the "Prince of Threequarters"....
for the centre position.
Rugby union career
Rees began his rugby career with Hafod Rovers, the same team that would produce fellow international team mate Dicky OwenDicky Owen
Dicky Owen was a Welsh international scrum-half who played club rugby for Swansea RFC Owen is seen as one of the greatest Welsh scrum-halves and won 35 caps for Wales between 1901 and 1912, a record that was unbeaten until 1955 when Ken Jones surpassed him.-Influence in rugby:Born Richard Morgan...
, but switched to first-class side Swansea in 1897. Rees has a long career with Swansea, and from 1901 through to 1905 faced the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
in each of their Easter tours. During the Barbarian encounters, Rees scored a try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
in each of the first four encounters, and three in the fifth. He later became the Swansea senior team's vice-captain during the 1904/05 "invincible" season.
It was while representing Swansea that Rees was first selected to represent Wales, brought into the team to face England in the opening game of the 1900 Home Nations Championship
1900 Home Nations Championship
The 1900 Home Nations Championship was the eighteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 6 January and 17 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
. Rees was not first choice for the match as in December 1899 the South Wales Daily News released the team sheet for the England vs. Wales encounter to be played on the 6 January, with Gwyn Nicholls as centre. This was presumptuous as Nicholls had been part of the British Isles
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
team that had recently toured Australia
1899 British Lions tour to Australia
The 1899 British Isles tour to Australia was the fourth rugby union tour by a British Isles team and the second to Australia; though the first tour in 1888 was a private venture, making the 1899 tour the first official undertaking of Australia...
, and no contact had been made with Nicholls since the final game. On 31 December, a telegram was received stating that Nicholls would not be able to make the first Championship game, and the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
immediately responded with news that Rees would take his place at centre, winning his first cap alongside Swansea team-mate George Davies
George Davies (rugby player)
George Davies was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Llandeilo and Swansea. A two time Triple Crown winner, Davies would represent his country on nine occasions. A skillful player, Davies was unfortunate to be playing during the same period as Rhys Gabe, who was...
. Wales won the game 13-3, with a try from Billy Trew
Billy Trew
Billy Trew was a Welsh international centre, outside half and wing who played club rugby for Swansea Rugby Football Club. He won 29 caps for Wales and is seen as one of the key players of the first Golden Age of Welsh rugby union...
on the wing, and a forwards try from Dick Hellings
Dick Hellings
Richard 'Dick' Hellings was an English born rugby union forward who played international rugby for Wales and club rugby for Llwynypia. Hellings was noted for his strength built from years cutting coal as a Rhondda miner...
, both converted by captain Billy Bancroft
Billy Bancroft
Billy Bancroft was a Welsh international fullback who played club rugby for Swansea and a county cricketer for Glamorgan, becoming their first professional player in 1895....
who also scored a penalty goal. The Athletic News gave the Welsh victory to the pack, dismissing the threequarters, but The Sportsman
The Sportsman (1865 newspaper)
The first British newspaper titled The Sportsman began publishing from 1865, some six years after the Sporting Life. It ran until 1924....
wrote "an exposition of the three quarter back game was given which must have satisfied the great Mr Arthur Gould himself". The Thursday after the match, Nicholls arrived back in Britain and was immediately selected for the Welsh team to face Scotland. Despite a victory and some good reviews, Rees lost his place to Nicholls, despite Nicholls having not played a competitive game since the previous August. Some commentators believe that Nicholls played due to worries over his future selection caused by the good press articles the Swansea centres received. Wales won the next two games of the Championship without Rees, though his inclusion in the first game made him a member of the 1900 Triple Crown winning Welsh team.
Nicholls kept his place throughout the 1901 and 1902 Championships, but in December 1902, Nicholls broke his collarbone in an away game against Blackheath F.C.. This ruled him out for the early games of the 1903 Home Nations Championship
1903 Home Nations Championship
The 1903 Home Nations Championship was the twenty-first series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 10 January and 21 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
, and Rees was once again brought into the national team at threequarters. With injuries also sustained by Teddy Morgan
Teddy Morgan
Edward "Teddy" Morgan was a Welsh international rugby union player. He was a member of the winning Wales team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks and is remembered for scoring the winning try...
and Willie Llewellyn
Willie Llewellyn
William Morris "Willie" Llewellyn was a Welsh international rugby union player. He captained Wales in 1905 and London Welsh in 1902. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks, toured with the British Isles to Australasia in 1904 and won three Triple Crown...
, the Welsh threequarters was hastily constructed, with Swansea's Fred Jowett and a recalled Tom Pearson
Tom Pearson (rugby player)
Thomas William Rory Pearson was a Welsh international wing who played club rugby for Cardiff and Newport and county rugby with Middlesex. He won 13 caps for Wales and captained the team on one occasion, against England. Pearson was an all-round sportsman, representing Wales not only in rugby, but...
taking the wings and Rees partnering the only surviving member of the 1902 team, Rhys Gabe
Rhys Gabe
Rhys Thomas "Rusty" Gabe born as Rees Thomas Gape, was a Welsh rugby union player who played club rugby for Llanelli, London Welsh and Cardiff and gained 24 caps for Wales, mainly as a centre.-Rugby career:...
. Despite losing their captain Pearson to a heavy tackle, the Welsh were rampant against a poor England in the opening match. Playing a man down, Jehoida Hodges
Jehoida Hodges
Joseph Jehoida Hodges was a Welsh international rugby union player. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks...
was taken from the pack and placed on the wing to replace Pearson, and duly scored three tries in a 21-3 victory. Rees retained his partnership with Gabe for the next game of the tournament, played away at Inverlieth to Scotland. On a pitch which was waterlogged before kick-off and played under rain swept and windy conditions, Wales lost 6-0. The next game saw the reintroduction of Nicholls, back from injury and Rees once again lost his place to him.
The 1904 Championship began with Nicholls and Gabe at centre for Wales, but when Nicholls was unable to commit to the later stages of the tournament Charlie Pritchard
Charlie Pritchard
Captain Charlie Pritchard was a Welsh international rugby union player. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks. He played club rugby for Newport RFC and county rugby for Monmouthshire.-Rugby career:...
was brought in rather than Rees. The 1905 Championship
1905 Home Nations Championship
The 1905 Home Nations Championship was the twenty-third series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 14 January and 18 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales....
saw Rees reselected with Nicholls now apparently retired. Rees was back in partnership with Gabe at centre, and George Davies was now playing at full back. The Wales team first face England, who were demolished 25-0 by a vastly superior and more skilful Welsh team. The second game was against Scotland, which saw Rees' position as an amateur player queried by some sections of the Scottish sporting establishment. Wales won through two Willie Llewellyn tries, but this was to be Rees' final international. The final game of the tournament was a Triple Crown decider between Wales and Ireland, both having beaten Scotland and England. The match was played at Swansea's home ground, St. Helen's, and Rees had been selected to play, paired as he had been for the last two matches with Rhys Gabe. On the morning of the match, Rees informed the WRU that he was ineligible to play, which would have opened the way for nominated reserve, and Swansea's captain, Frank Gordon
Frank Gordon (rugby player)
Frank "Genny" Gordon was a Welsh rugby union forward who played club rugby for Swansea Rugby Club. Although never capped for his country he is notable for captaining Swansea over two seasons, including the 1904/05 "invincible" season...
to gain his first international cap. The WRU reacted harshly to this, and reinstated Nicholls as they believed that Rees was following club orders to give their captain an international cap. The St Helen's crowd booed Nicholls and even pelted him with mud and oranges during the team photo, reacting badly to what was a snub to their captain and their team. Despite the ill feeling to Nicholls, Wales still won the game, making Rees, again in his absence, a Triple Crown winner for a second time.
On the 21 October 1905, Rees drew his international career and any arguments of his amateur status to a close when he "Went North"; switching to professional rugby league team Hull Kingston Rovers. Rees was paid a signing on fee of £300 to join Hull, which was the largest fee to a Welsh player prior to World War I.