Rees returned to action as a second half replacement against the Wallabies in December after missing the RWC 2011 campaign due to a serious neck injury.

Up to that point, he had been Wales captain, first taking the armband in the last three games of the 2010 autumn series and in all five 2011 RBS 6 Nations fixtures. In doing so, he became the first hooker to captain Wales since Mefin Davies in 2001.

In 2010 Rees missed the opening three RBS 6 Nations games with a groin injury but he returned to face Ireland and Italy. He made his debut against the United States in 2005 before establishing himself as a starter in the 2007 Championship. He went on to play in all five matches of the 2008 Grand Slam season.

Rees was named in the 2009 British & Irish Lions squad to go to South Africa and helped form the first all-Welsh front row, joining Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones at the coalface. Domestically, he played for Pontypridd and then the Celtic Warriors before signing for the Scarlets, where he has been since 2004.