Tom Rees (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Rees is a rugby union
footballer who plays flanker
for London Wasps
and has represented England at senior, Under-21, Under-19, Under-18 and Under-16 levels as well as sevens
.
the following year. Under the guidance of Andy Bloodworth (of Chineham RFC) and Dave Luff, Rees progressed in the sport, initially playing in the centre before eventually specialising at openside flanker. Rees was eventually selected for England U16's, where he was awarded player of the year, and which led to his receiving offers from many Rugby-playing grammar schools: he chose to attend The Royal Grammar School
in High Wycombe. Rees went on to play for England U18's and then U19's, being the first choice openside flanker in both sides. He then signed for London Wasps on an academy contract, and after two years and having just broken into the first team he was offered a first team contract, which he has since re-signed on a two year deal.
Many people are worried that Rees may not fulfill his potential as he continues to be injured, he is widely selected to be England's next Captain.
He returned to action on the 27th March 2010 against Northampton which ended 14 9 to Northampton but this followed wins over Gloucester, Worcester and London Irish
Rees represented England A
against Ireland A
in early 2006.
Rees had a string of injuries during the 2005–06 season, but on his return put in strong performances at Wasps and was granted his place in the full England squad after representing England at all age groups possible.
Rees made his full England
debut on 3 February 2007 against Scotland, coming on as a substitute for Joe Worsley
. Rees started his first game in the 26–18 victory against France
on 11 March 2007 and was awarded the RBS Man of The Match Award by Brian Moore. Rees also started the next game against Wales
.
Rees made his World Cup
debut in England's initial group game against USA
. Despite England under performing Rees was signaled out along with back Olly Barkley
as two positives from the victory. Rees' second half try in that game put him second behind Nigel Redmond as England's youngest try scoring forward during a World Cup Finals event. Despite starting in the following game against South Africa
Rees failed to make another appearance during the 2007 World Cup
. A thigh injury kept him out of the matches against Tonga
and Samoa
and during this time Lewis Moody
claimed the number 7 shirt for the remainder of the tournament.
Despite a supposed lack of form for his club side London Wasps since his return from the World Cup, Rees made Brian Ashton's 32 man training squad for the 2008 Six Nations and earned a place on the bench for the Six Nations opener against Wales
ahead of other open-side specialists Michael Lipman
and Magnus Lund
.
Rees' strong form towards the end of the 2007–08 Guinness Premiership saw him selected to travel to New Zealand to represent England in a 2 test summer tour. He was then selected to start the first test at number 7 on 14 June 2008, a game which England lost 37–20. Despite England's defeat, Rees had put in a decent performance in that match. Rees was picked to start the second test in Christchurch on 21 June 2008. England were thumped 44–12, however Rees again put in a performance he could be proud of against the standout openside in world rudgy, Richie McCaw.
Since these initial signs of promise on the International stage, Rees has failed to live up his potential. A mixture of poor form and injuries has seen him slide down the pecking order for England's first choice openside flanker.
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 plays flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
for London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
and has represented England at senior, Under-21, Under-19, Under-18 and Under-16 levels as well as sevens
England national rugby union team (sevens)
The English national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-Honours:* 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament - Winners* Rugby World Cup Sevens Winners 1993* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2002* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2003*...
.
Career
Rees began playing rugby at Harriet Costello Secondary School(now Costello Technology College) in 1996. He also joined the youth team at Basingstoke RFCBasingstoke R.F.C.
Basingstoke Rugby Football Club is a Rugby Union club based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, in southern England. The club was formed in March 1948, with two matches being played during that season, and a full fixture list for two fifteens the following season...
the following year. Under the guidance of Andy Bloodworth (of Chineham RFC) and Dave Luff, Rees progressed in the sport, initially playing in the centre before eventually specialising at openside flanker. Rees was eventually selected for England U16's, where he was awarded player of the year, and which led to his receiving offers from many Rugby-playing grammar schools: he chose to attend The Royal Grammar School
Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
See Royal Grammar School for the other schools with the name RGS.The Royal Grammar School High Wycombe is a selective grammar school situated in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. As a state school it does not charge fees for students to attend, but they must pass an entrance exam...
in High Wycombe. Rees went on to play for England U18's and then U19's, being the first choice openside flanker in both sides. He then signed for London Wasps on an academy contract, and after two years and having just broken into the first team he was offered a first team contract, which he has since re-signed on a two year deal.
Many people are worried that Rees may not fulfill his potential as he continues to be injured, he is widely selected to be England's next Captain.
He returned to action on the 27th March 2010 against Northampton which ended 14 9 to Northampton but this followed wins over Gloucester, Worcester and London Irish
Representative career
Rees captained the England U21 side in the Six Nations Championship but was not selected for the elite England squad for the 2005 autumn internationals due to a knee injury sustained during the 2005 Zurich Premiership semi-finals.Rees represented England A
England Saxons
England Saxons is the current name of England's men's second national rugby union team. The team has previously been known by a number of names, such as England B, Emerging England and, most recently, England A...
against Ireland A
Ireland A national rugby union team
The Ireland Wolfhounds are the second national rugby union team behind the Irish national side. They have previously competed in the Churchill Cup together with the England Saxons and the full national teams of Canada and the United States as well as selection of other nations' 1st, 2nd and 3rd...
in early 2006.
Rees had a string of injuries during the 2005–06 season, but on his return put in strong performances at Wasps and was granted his place in the full England squad after representing England at all age groups possible.
Rees made his full England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
debut on 3 February 2007 against Scotland, coming on as a substitute for Joe Worsley
Joe Worsley
Joseph Paul Richard Worsley MBE is a retired English rugby union player who played flanker for Wasps and England.-Biography:...
. Rees started his first game in the 26–18 victory against France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
on 11 March 2007 and was awarded the RBS Man of The Match Award by Brian Moore. Rees also started the next game against Wales
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...
.
Rees made his World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
debut in England's initial group game against USA
United States national rugby union team
USA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...
. Despite England under performing Rees was signaled out along with back Olly Barkley
Olly Barkley
Oliver John Barkley is an English rugby union player who plays at fly-half or centre for Bath and England. Uniquely, Barkley played for his country before making his full senior club début.-Early career:...
as two positives from the victory. Rees' second half try in that game put him second behind Nigel Redmond as England's youngest try scoring forward during a World Cup Finals event. Despite starting in the following game against South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
Rees failed to make another appearance during the 2007 World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
. A thigh injury kept him out of the matches against Tonga
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
and Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
and during this time Lewis Moody
Lewis Moody
Lewis Walton Moody MBE is an English rugby union rugby player who currently plays for Bath Rugby and was part of the 2003 World Cup winning side. He is renowned for his commitment to the physical aspects of the game....
claimed the number 7 shirt for the remainder of the tournament.
Despite a supposed lack of form for his club side London Wasps since his return from the World Cup, Rees made Brian Ashton's 32 man training squad for the 2008 Six Nations and earned a place on the bench for the Six Nations opener against Wales
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...
ahead of other open-side specialists Michael Lipman
Michael Lipman
Michael Lipman is an English rugby union footballer, who plays at Flanker, and is contracted to the Melbourne Rebels.Lipman has also played at International level for England.-Early career in Australia:...
and Magnus Lund
Magnus Lund
Magnus Lund is an English Rugby Union player, who plays in the back row for Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque.He was educated at the Lancaster Royal Grammar School where he played for the first XV. He also studied Business Enterprise at the Manchester Metropolitan University...
.
Rees' strong form towards the end of the 2007–08 Guinness Premiership saw him selected to travel to New Zealand to represent England in a 2 test summer tour. He was then selected to start the first test at number 7 on 14 June 2008, a game which England lost 37–20. Despite England's defeat, Rees had put in a decent performance in that match. Rees was picked to start the second test in Christchurch on 21 June 2008. England were thumped 44–12, however Rees again put in a performance he could be proud of against the standout openside in world rudgy, Richie McCaw.
Since these initial signs of promise on the International stage, Rees has failed to live up his potential. A mixture of poor form and injuries has seen him slide down the pecking order for England's first choice openside flanker.