Veteran coach Dai Rees to leave Hong Kong Rugby Union after more than a decade’s service
- The Welshman helped take various national programmes to new heights while developing the game locally
- Rees will be heading to England July 1 after an amazing career in Hong Kong
Dai Rees, the Hong Kong Rugby Union’s chief rugby officer, will be returning to Shrewsbury, England, which is the hometown of his wife Sarah.
Rees helped take Hong Kong rugby to new heights with the men’s 15s squad coming within a win of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, the men’s sevens one win away from the World Rugby’s Sevens Series while the,women’s 15s squad reached the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland. Also during his tenure, there was a gold medal for the men’s sevens teams at the 2018 Asian Games over arch rivals Japan.
“My life’s purpose and vision continues to ‘revolve’,” said Rees, who will officially leave the HKRU on July 1.
“I started my career as a teacher and later moved into senior management as a college principal. As a strategic manager, I missed the interaction with people that I had when I was teaching and coaching, and with the support of my family, decided to take up a career in full-time coaching with Newport Gwent Dragons and Wales before moving to HKRU.”
Rees leaves the sport’s governing body after 12 years and as arguably one of its most successful coaches. Since arriving in 2008 to coach the men’s 15s squad, he went on to coach the men’s sevens team before taking on roles as head of technical development and performance rugby, and the general manager of rugby performance and development.
