UVic Sports Hall of Fame
CATEGORY: Athlete
Gareth Rees was twice named University of Victoria's Athlete of the Year while playing rugby for the Vikes and studying for his bachelor's degree in history.
His storied international career began when he received his first Canada Under-19 cap against the England Colts in 1985 while attending Harrow School in England. When Rees featured on the senior men's team against the United States later that season, he earned the distinction of being Canada's first player to earn caps at the junior and senior men's level in the same year.
Often referred to as "Canada's gift to rugby," Rees led his country into four World Cup tournaments, a feat never before accomplished by another international rugby player.
After graduating from UVic, Rees wrapped up a decorated international career as Canada's all-time leading points scorer. When he captained Canada in the 1999 Rugby World Cup, he made all 19 attempts at goal and retired from international play with a total of 492 points in 55 appearances for his country.
Rees pursued a professional career overseas playing for Newport, Bedford, Merignac, the Wasps and the Harlequins as well as the prestigious Barbarians, three times on their Easter tour of south Wales and again against Leicester.
In 2000 Rees became just the sixth person in history to be recognized by the Rugby Union Writer's Club of Britain and was later inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. In 2011 Rees was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame.
Rees earned his master's degree from Oxford University and he later went on to serve as a history teacher and rugby coach at the prestigious Eton College in Windsor, England.
In 2002 Rees was appointed CEO of Rugby Canada but later stepped down. In 2012 he returned to Rugby Canada as the Manager of the Men's National program overseeing the operations for the men's XV, sevens and Centre of Excellence Academy in Langford, BC.
UVic Achievements
- 1989 and 1990 UVic Most Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year
- Played locally for UVic, Castaway Wanderers, Vancouver Island Crimson Tide, Team B.C and Team Canada
International Achievements
- 1985 First Canadian cap as a U-19 against the England Colts
- 1985 First Canadian to earn caps at the junior and senior men's level in the same year
- 1987, 91, 95, 99 First male rugby player to play in four World Cups
- Captained the World Cup Canadian team in 1995 and 1999
- 1999 World Cup set a Canadian record of 27 points vs. Namibia and made all 19 attempted kicks at goal
- Played internationally for Oxford University, Newport, Bedford, Merignac, Wasps, Harlequins and the Barbarians
- Retired with 492 points and 55 caps for Canada
Other Achievements & Hall of Fame
- 2002 Appointed CEO of Rugby Canada
- 2012 Named Rugby Canada Men's National Program Manager
- 2000 Became the sixth person ever to be recognized by the Rugby Union Writer's Club of Britain
- 2004 Inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame
- 2007 Inducted into the B.C Rugby Hall of Fame
- 2008 Inducted into the B.C Sports Hall of Fame
- 2011 Inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame
