Aneurin Rees

Theophilus Aneurin Rees (9 April 1858 – 11 September 1932) was a Welsh rugby union forward who represented Llandovery College at club level. He was capped once for Wales, in the country's very first international rugby match.

Personal history Rees was born in Tonn, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales. He came from a distinguished family, his great uncle the Rev. Jenkin Rees was a Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford; while an uncle, Professor Rees of Lampeter College was a fellow of Jesus College, Oxford. His father was a published author, who wrote works on the literature of Wales. He was educated at Sherborne School and then Jesus College, Oxford, but did not win a "Blue".

In 1890 he was admitted as a solicitor, and by 1901 he was appointed clerk to the Merthyr Urban District Council. When the S.W.F.C. played Clifton at Cardiff in January 1876, Rees was on the team sheet, showing his willingness to be involved with a larger club that allowed him to face more established opposition.

On 19 February 1881 Rees represented the Wales national rugby union team in the country's very first international rugby match, in a friendly against England. The match was a sporting disaster for the Welsh, with the players having little if any knowledge of playing together, and many of the team placed out of position. The English won by eight goals, scoring 13 tries in total, with Wales unable to score. The game was to be Rees' only cap for Wales, As a member of the humiliated first Welsh team, Rees now found himself one of the first four national selectors, and was best served to ensure the farcical events of the 1881 international did not occur again.

International matches played Wales (rugby union) 1881