Rees was born in Duncan, British Columbia, to Alan Rees who had emigrated to Canada from Wales, and was himself a former rugby union footballer having represented
Cross Keys,
Maesteg and
London Welsh. Rees was educated at
St. Michaels University School in Victoria and later at
Harrow School in
England. When studying at Harrow, he was selected to the
Wasps starting XV in what was then the
John Player Cup final in 1986. He played club rugby with
Castaways,
Wasps,
Mérignac,
Newport,
Oxford University,
Harlequins, and the
Barbarians. Whilst at Wasps he helped them win the
Anglo-Welsh Cup in 1999, 13 years after his last appearance in the final, scoring two conversions and four penalties as they defeated
Newcastle Falcons. Rees played in all of the first four
Rugby World Cup tournaments, the
1987,
1991,
1995 and
1999. He retired after the 1999 finals becoming the only player to play at the first four Rugby World Cups. In the 1995 World Cup Rees together with
James Dalton and
Rod Snow were sent off for fighting in a Canada vs South Africa match that came to be known as the Battle of
Boet Erasmus. All three players received a 30-day suspension. Rees did not regret coming to the aid of his team mates, and said after the incident, "We're a very tight team. The guys love each other." Rees donated one of his rugby boots to be bronzed and used as a trophy to be competed for annually by St. Michaels and
Oak Bay High School. ==References==