He began working with the Ospreys in 2005 when as WRU Performance Skills Coach he played a key role in devising, implementing and developing programmes in the newly formed academies across Wales.
For the next five years, while still WRU contracted, his regional work was focused entirely on the Ospreys, initially on the development pathway helping to bring through a host of players such as Justin Tipuric, Ryan Bevington, Joe Rees, James King, Rhys Webb, Dan Biggar, Ashley Beck, Matthew Morgan, Eli Walker and Tom Prydie.
In 2008, his role was extended to encompass the post of Skills Coach to the senior squad as well as the monitoring and development of individual performance.
Rees has also worked with Wales Sevens, before spending the last eight months working in Italy with PRO12 outfit Aironi on a secondment basis, where he was responsible for implementing an academy structure and effective succession planning / talent identification structures for an organisation just a year old at the time of appointment.
Ospreys appointed Gruff as backs coach in 2012.
In December 2017 Rees announced that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season after 13 years.
JW December 17
Career
 |
Ospreys Coach |
2012 - 2017 |
