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The 45-year-old will be part of Bargoed’s coaching team for next season
Former Wales captain Matthew Rees has joined Bargoed’s coaching staff ahead of next season.
The ex-British and Irish Lions hooker has spent the current season as Taff’s Well head coach, having previously coached Beddau.
The 45-year-old will now join Aled James’ coaching team as Bargoed look to push for honours in the Community Premiership next season.
The club currently sit in fifth place with two games left to play, having finished fourth last year.
“We have a great coaching team in place and having Matthew on board will add significant value to this, with his playing and coaching experience,” said Bargoed chair Neil Carter.
“I know that he’s looking forward to the challenge of the Community Premiership with the club and developing the young talent that we have.”
Rees’ playing career saw him play for the Celtic Warriors, Scarlets and Cardiff.
He spent nine years in Llanelli, playing over 180 times and captaining the region.
Rees played 60 times for Wales, making his debut against the United States in 2005.
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In 2009, Rees was part of an all-Welsh front-row in the Lions’ second Test against South Africa, starting alongside Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones.
That marked the first time an all-Welsh front-row had been named for a Lions Test since the 1955 tour.
Rees was named Wales captain during the autumn of 2010, retaining the role for the 2011 Six Nations.
However, a neck injury ruled him out of that year’s World Cup – with Sam Warburton taking over the captaincy.
In 2013, Rees was forced to take time away from rugby for treatment for testicular cancer.
However, he recovered from the illness and won two more caps in 2014 against South Africa to become Wales’ most-capped hooker – a record that has since been surpassed by Ken Owens.
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