While Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell have been earning rave reviews for their efforts during the current World Rugby U20 Championship campaign, Rees has quietly been going about his business in a quietly influential way.
Dragons back row Lennon Greggains would have been inked in for the blindside role by most fans but the Scarlets back row has grabbed his chance with both hands to earn a starting spot against England in today’s fifth-place final against England.
His father’s favourite saying is: Someone has to be unlucky for you to be lucky – and it’s a motto Rees junior stands by – particularly as it has served him so well in his Wales U20 international career.
Tommy Reffell’s pulled hamstring in the opening game of the Six Nations against France saw Rees replace the Leicester Tiger’s back row for the second game of the 2019 campaign against Italy.
He finished the campaign with another three caps against England, Scotland and Ireland to give the Welsh management a nudge when it came to confirming their Junior World Cup selection.
However he was left disappointed when initially missing out on a World Cup spot but as luck would have it, fate would intervene again.
“Taine Basham was unfortunately injured in a training match against South Africa. I was obviously disappointed to miss out on the original selection but I was part of a wider training squad and able to train with the boys. As my father’s saying goes, someone has to be unlucky for you to be lucky – Taine got unlucky and I got lucky as a result of his injury,” said the German-born Rees.
The unassuming Rees comes across as a polite young man who has to pinch himself that he is playing alongside some of the best talent in the world in his age group. He says it is a privilege to play alongside colleagues of the calibre of Morgan, Greggains and Reffell yet his performances have matched those of his countrymen.
He replaced Greggains against Argentina in the opening match and immediately made an impact with his presence in the line-out. His alround footballing skills came to the fore in the dying seconds as it was his boot to touch from a turnover which signalled a dogged win against the hosts.
He started the following two games against France and Fiji before coming on in the heat of the battle against New Zealand where his defence proved invaluable in Wales’ gutsy victory.
He played the majority of his rugby growing up in the second row but a timely chat with Scarlets academy coach Richard Kelly possibly changed the course of his playing career.
“Basically, I’d always been taught from a young age that I was a second row but these days second rows have to be at least 6ft 5in and I’m 6ft 2in and a half. I remember Richard [Kelly] saying to me at the Scarlets – ‘You and I know both know you are never going to be a second row – you are going to be a six’
“I wasn’t disappointed to hear that to be honest, but even when I got capped for the U20s, it was in the second row because of injury – so I suppose it is a bonus I have that second row background in my locker,” he said.
Kelly, now Wales forwards coach, has been impressed with the progress Rees has made in Argentina.
“Iestyn has really stepped up to the plate for us in the World Cup – both with and without the ball. He brings physicality to the game and his line-out work has been exceptional.
“Having played second row previously, he gives us options there and I’m delighted with his progress during the tournament and he fully deserves to start against England,” said Kelly.
Rees also has leadership qualities as he has captained Wales U18 in the past. Last year he captained his country against England and led the likes of Jac Price, Ioan Davies, Deon Smith, Ioan R Davies and Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, who all today pit their skills against England.
“I also used to call the line-outs at Under 16s but I don’t do that anymore because there is a lot of pressure on the caller – it’s a different kind of pressure than captaining your country. Jac Price does that job for us and to be fair – he does a cracking job,” said Rees.
Once the World Cup is over, Rees has already mapped out his master plan for further success. As a Scarlets-mad fan growing up, his long term aim is to play for the senior team but in the short term he is hoping to play for the Under 23 side and play for Swansea University in the BUCS (he is studying Sports and Exercise Science). As if that isn’t enough to get started on, he hopes to continue his development with Llandovery in the Premiership.
“I played a handful of games last year for Llandovery – I really enjoy playing there. The players there really know their stuff and I think the Premiership is a good way to develop your game from a forwards point of view.”
Rees’ boyhood hero was a certain Regan King while his favourite player today is Scarlets and Wales back row Aaron Shingler.
“He’s just a good athlete, good at the lineout and very physical,” says Rees. A description which in the not too distant future, people may be applying to him.
