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Cancer survivor Matthew Rees to call time on lengthy career at end of this season
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.
NEWS | Matthew Rees will retire at the end of the season following a unbelievable career. #ThanksSmiler #392AndCounting
Full story to follow… pic.twitter.com/5Ua9rCXD02
— Cardiff Blues (@cardiff_blues) February 13, 2019
“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.
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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It's all to play for in the @PRO14Official with @GlasgowWarriors up next at the @ArmsParkCardiff on Saturday! Make sure you are there for what will be a crucial encounter.
029 20 302030 or https://t.co/YF02TJdHEm for tickets! pic.twitter.com/Tl50DfT1A5
— Cardiff Blues (@cardiff_blues) February 11, 2019
“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.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments