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Cancer survivor Matthew Rees to call time on lengthy career at end of this season

Matthew Rees in action for Cardiff Blues (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Matthew Rees will hang up his boots at the end of the season following an illustrious career spanning 19 years.

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The Cardiff Blues hooker returned to action at the start of 2019 after recovering from ACL surgery and is fit and available for the remainder of the season. But he will call it quits in May and is determined to go out on a high by helping secure Heineken Champions Cup rugby once more for his home region.

The 38-year-old said: “I’ve made my decision to retire based on a few reasons but mainly age isn’t on my side anymore and it’s been a tough journey with an injury like an ACL reconstruction and its rehabilitation. I’ve managed to get through that and I’m now able retire on my own terms after an illustrious career.

“I haven’t featured much this season because of the injury but now I want to go out on a high. We have three months left and hopefully I can play a part in those remaining games. The next few weeks are going to be huge, especially when you consider how tight it is in the league table.

“We’ve put ourselves in a decent position in the PRO14 and we have some big games coming up. We’ve had a taste of the Champions Cup again and that’s where this region wants to be and where the players want to challenge themselves.”

Rees has already played more professional games of rugby than any other Welshman with 329 professional club and regional appearances to his name as well as 60 Tests for Wales and three for the British & Irish Lions.

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His achievements are made all the more remarkable given the fact that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2013, something in which he overcame to continue playing.

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He continued: “Starting out at Pontypridd in 2000, I could never have imagined I would achieve what I have. It’s amazing just to be playing professional rugby at the age of 38, especially in the front-row and to have played almost 400 games takes some doing.

“I’ve been very fortunate and I’m really proud of everything I’ve achieved. Playing for Wales is every kid’s dream and the Lions is a big one, especially playing in Test matches. To have also captained the Scarlets, Wales and Cardiff Blues is a massive honour and something I will cherish for the rest of my life.

“The only real frustration is being named captain for the 2011 World Cup and then being ruled out through injury. I would really have liked to have played a part in that, knowing how well we had prepared.

“Being diagnosed with cancer were some of the real dark days of my career. I did think that my professional playing days were over.

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“Looking back, I probably came back a bit too early but the icing on the cake was earning selection on the Wales tour to South Africa in 2014 and winning two more caps. Overcoming cancer to play a few more seasons is more than I could have imagined.”

Rees is now considering his next steps and would ideally like to remain within rugby. Cardiff Blues head coach John Mulvihill has led the tributes to the man known as Smiler and believes he still has a huge amount to offer to the game.

Mulvihill said: “Smiler is a real warrior of the game and his body and mind have played a massive part in Welsh rugby over more than a decade of service. He is a true champion who has beaten challenges both on and off the field during his illustrious career.

“I spoke to Smiler after his initial injury at the end of last season and said it was his call on whether he was willing to put his body through a lengthy rehab to try and get back to being the number one hooker at the club. I never doubted he would make it back and it was great to have him lead the team out in our final Heineken Champions Cup game in Glasgow last month.

“It was always my intention to let someone who has given such great service to his club and country over so many years to go out on his terms. He is someone who doesn’t want to hang on to make up the numbers, he will go out on his terms and with plenty to look back on with pride.”

“Our entire squad, staff and the Cardiff Blues and Welsh rugby family wish him and his family all the very best for the future. I’m sure he will continue his passion of rugby on in some capacity and share his wealth of knowledge with both current and future players both at the Cardiff Blues and within our region.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
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CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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