Matthew Rees to Captain Wales against Oz

Posted on Oct 26, 2010 in Rugby News

Matthew Rees has today (Tuesday) been appointed as the Wales captain for the Invesco Perpetual Series 2010 opener against Australia at the Millennium Stadium a week on Saturday.
Rees, the current Scarlets captain who has 39 caps to his name and was the starting hooker for the British & Irish Lions in the 2nd and 3rd Tests in South Africa in 2009, will take over  the captains’ arm band from the injury hit Ryan Jones. He will become the 128th player to captain Wales.
Jones sustained a grade-two tear to his calf muscle whilst on duty for the Ospreys in Glasgow last weekend and has been ruled out of the game against the Wallabies on Saturday, 6 November. He will be re-assessed after the match to determine when he may be able to return.
“It’s obviously a huge honour to captain your country and it’s something that probably won’t really sink in until we get to match-day. To lead the side out at the Millennium Stadium against a side of the strength and stature of Australia is just an amazing thought,” said Rees
“I hope to be able to take it all in my stride and as a squad we are certainly looking to perform against the Wallabies and come away with the right result to kick-off our Autumn campaign, and this Rugby World Cup season, in the right way.”
Meanwhile, a scan has revealed that Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny has damaged a ligament in his ankle, which will see him in recovery for three to four weeks. This means he will leave the squad and be replaced by Dragons wing Aled Brew.
Brew was already in camp with Wales, providing injury cover for recovering Scarlets wing George North, who himself will be back in training next week after a leg fracture.

Matthew Rees (born 9 December 1980 in Tonyrefail, Wales) is a Welsh 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.

In June 2009 Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones and Matthew Rees 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.

Matthew Rees
DOB: 9 December, 1980
Birthplace: Tonyrefail
Position: Hooker
Ht: 1.83 m (6′ 0")
Wt: 109 kg (17 st 2 lb)
Honours: Wales (39 caps), B&I Lions (3 caps)
Debut: 4 June, 2005 v USA

Aled Brew
DOB: 9 August, 1986
Birthplace: Cardiff
Position: Wing
Ht: 1.85 m (6′ 1")
Wt: 101 kg (15 st 12 lb)
Honours: Wales (3 caps)
Debut: 4 February, 2007 v Ireland

Williams, Rees & Jenkins out of Wales squad to face France

Posted on Feb 18, 2010 in Rugby News

Wales physio Mark Davies today confirmed Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins and Gareth Williams will not be available for selection for the RBS 6 Nations clash with France at the Millennium Stadium a week tomorrow (kick-off 8.00pm)

Scarlets hooker Rees has failed to recover from a groin problem, Blues prop Gethin Jenkins has a calf injury and fellow Blues player, hooker Gareth Williams, has damaged knee ligaments.

“Matthew (Rees) is progressing well and will continue his rehab in camp with Wales,” said Davies.

(more…)

Powell removed from Welsh Squad

Posted on Feb 16, 2010 in Rugby News

The Wales national squad management team has confirmed back row forward Andy Powell will be removed from the Welsh 35-man RBS 6 Nations squad with immediate effect, following his arrest by  South Wales Police  on Sunday morning and has since been charged with drink driving and, after discussions with the player himself, it has been decided by management that he should be suspended from the squad for behaviour contrary to the squad’s code of conduct.

“We take matters of player conduct extremely seriously and have been happy with the professionalism and discipline of this squad in general terms,” said Wales team manager Alan Phillips.

“Andy knows he has misbehaved and is apologetic, but he also knows that he must take responsibility for his own actions and accept the repercussions.

“This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated in a professional, elite sporting environment and we have acted quickly and incisively in order to leave no ambiguity over the dim view we take of this situation.
(more…)

Wales injury update – Rees needs surgery

Posted on Dec 1, 2009 in Rugby News

Wales and Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees is likely to require surgery on the groin tear which saw him carried off on a stretcher against Australia at the Millennium Stadium last Saturday in the final clash of the Invesco Perpetual Series of 2009.

Ospreys wing Shane Williams, who withdrew with a hamstring injury early in the first half, will not require surgery but will be in rehabilitation for a period of four to six weeks.

Squad captain Ryan Jones should be back in training this week after a back injury forced him to watch from the sidelines at the weekend and Leigh Halfpenny has joined the Baa-Baas squad still undergoing treatment for a dead leg.

(more…)

Wales team v Argentina – Jonathan Davies starts – Lydiate on bench

Posted on Nov 17, 2009 in Rugby News

Wales coach Warren Gatland has handed Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies his first Millennium Stadium start for the visit of Argentina in the Invesco Perpetual Series clash on Saturday (Kick-off 2.30pm).

The facial injury suffered by Tom Shanklin in the victory over Samoa gives Davies his chance with Gatland otherwise reverting to the starting line-up chosen to face New Zealand in the Series opener a fortnight ago.

And in a positional switch Blues centre Jamie Roberts moves to outside centre to accommodate Davies at No 12.

In forward changes from the team who beat Samoa Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees replaces Osprey Huw Bennett and Blues flanker Martyn Williams returns for regional team-mate Sam Warburton, with Bennett providing cover from the bench.

(more…)