Matthew Rees
Encyclopedia
Matthew Rees is a Wales
and British Lions
international rugby union
footballer who currently plays for the Scarlets in the Celtic League
. His usual position is at hooker. He previously played for the now defunct Celtic Warriors
and Pontypridd
.
Rees made his debut for Wales against the USA in 2005.
In June 2009 Rees, Gethin Jenkins
and Adam Jones
were selected as the British and Irish Lions
front row for the 2nd Test against South Africa. This was the first time an all-Welsh front row was selected for a Lions test match since Billy Williams
, Bryn Meredith
and Courtney Meredith
on the 1955 Lions tour.
On 18 January 2010 he was named in the 35 man Wales national Squad
for the 2010 Six Nations tournament. Rees was appointed captain of the Welsh side in place of the injured Ryan Jones
for the test against Australia at the Millennium Stadium on 6 November 2010 and retained the captaincy for the 2011 Six Nations Championship.
On 29 May 2010, Rees was voted Rhondda Sport Personality of the year.
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...
and British Lions
British Lions
British Lions may refer to:*Lions , the lion is a traditional symbol of Great Britain, although it also used as a symbol in various other cultures* British Lions , a 1978 album by former members of Mott the Hoople and Medicine Head...
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...
footballer who currently plays for the Scarlets in the Celtic League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
. His usual position is at hooker. He previously played for the now defunct Celtic Warriors
Celtic Warriors
The Celtic Warriors were a regional rugby union team from Wales, who played in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup between 2003 and 2004.-History:The Warriors were one of the five original regions of the Welsh Regional Rugby Era...
and Pontypridd
Pontypridd RFC
Pontypridd Rugby Football Club, known as Ponty, are a rugby union team from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, currently playing in the British and Irish Cup, Principality Premiership, and are the current SWALEC Cup champions....
.
Rees made his debut for Wales against the USA in 2005.
In June 2009 Rees, Gethin Jenkins
Gethin Jenkins
Gethin Jenkins is a Wales and British Lions international rugby union player, currently playing for Cardiff Blues. He is the most capped prop-forward for Wales.-Early career:...
and Adam Jones
Adam Rhys Jones
Adam Rhys Jones is a Welsh international rugby union player, currently playing for the Ospreys in the RaboDirect Pro12. His usual position is at tighthead prop...
were selected as the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
front row for the 2nd Test against South Africa. This was the first time an all-Welsh front row was selected for a Lions test match since Billy Williams
Billy Williams (rugby player)
William Owen Gooding 'Billy' Williams was a Welsh international rugby union player. A prop forward, he played club rugby for Gowerton, Swansea and the Royal Navy...
, Bryn Meredith
Bryn Meredith
Brinley "Bryn" Victor Meredith was a rugby union international. Meredith was a mobile hooker, he was selected 34 times for Wales between 1954 and 1962, but missed 2 matches for health and family bereavement reasons....
and Courtney Meredith
Courtney Meredith
Courtney Meredith was a Welsh international rugby union prop who played club rugby for Neath. He won fourteen caps for Wales and also played for invitational club the Barbarians. Meredith was a powerful prop, and was much praised by second row players for his tight packing, which allowed them the...
on the 1955 Lions tour.
On 18 January 2010 he was named in the 35 man Wales national Squad
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
for the 2010 Six Nations tournament. Rees was appointed captain of the Welsh side in place of the injured Ryan Jones
Ryan Jones
Ryan Paul Jones is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays at number eight for the Ospreys. He is able to cover blindside flanker and second row; he played second row in his younger days as he was kept out of his preferred number 8 role by Gareth Delve.-Early life:Jones played junior...
for the test against Australia at the Millennium Stadium on 6 November 2010 and retained the captaincy for the 2011 Six Nations Championship.
On 29 May 2010, Rees was voted Rhondda Sport Personality of the year.