The 400-game stalwart hunting a fairytale finish in SRC
· Yahoo Sports
Almost 18 years after first stepping onto a field for Llandovery, Lee Rees gets a shot at a fairytale finish in Sunday's Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC) final against Ebbw Vale.
The 35-year-old scrum-half from Penygroes will lead out the Drovers one last time at Eugene Cross Park when making his 402nd appearance for the Church Bank club.
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The top flight of the domestic game has frequently been tinkered with by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) – its name, the number of clubs, ring-fencing, six-point tries, two-point penalties, the format, bonus-point systems – but Rees has been a reassuring presence.
His Llandovery career started with a friendly against North Wales on 16 August 2008, the day after current Drovers lock Kai Jones' family had just celebrated his first birthday.
His first league appearance, when he was a full-back or wing rather than half-back, prompted terrace jibes about his size.
Opponents will testify that Rees fights above his weight but the stalwart, who remains the heartbeat of the Drovers side, is ready to hang up his boots.
"It's a privilege to go out in this way when injury-free and physically feeling good," said the scrum-half, who in February announced his decision to retire at the end of this season.
"I am very lucky to have such a big game to finish and there would be no better way to go out than winning at Ebbw Vale, because it is one of the hardest places to go."
Lee Rees was a key figure in Llandovery's 2023 and 2024 title wins [Huw Evans Picture Agency]Rees, who is head of girls rugby at Llandovery College, and his teammates travel buoyed by a 30-22 semi-final win at Cardiff.
The Blue and Blacks topped the league but the fourth-placed Drovers possess a dangerous mix of experience and Scarlets talent.
Rees said: "It has been a bit of a transition year for us and the team has changed a lot throughout the season, so if we pull it off then I believe it would be the best of all our trophy wins.
"It is a formidable challenge to take on Ebbw Vale on their own patch because they are strong up front, know exactly what their plan is and usually execute it.
"But we go up there with confidence and self-belief because we have shown that we can turn anyone over on our day."
If the Drovers do win then it will be another medal for Rees, who has been a member of squads that have won two league titles and three cups.
Llandovery lifted the cup the year before the scrum-half arrived but also finished bottom of the Premiership, saved from relegation by Division One clubs not having the criteria for promotion.
The Drovers have gone from being "very average", as Rees puts it, to being annual contenders under the stewardship of Rob Appleyard, Lyndon Lewis and now Euros Evans.
Ebbw Vale were runners-up in the inaugural Super Rygbi Cymru season [Huw Evans Picture Agency]Llandovery face an Ebbw Vale side who have also been on an upward trend in recent years and are fuelled by being the bridesmaids.
Last season they finished top of the table but lost the grand final to Newport, who beat them in the semi-finals the previous year.
The Steelmen also lost the SRC Cup final to the Drovers at Church Bank in 2025, with head coach Jason Strange having plenty of respect for their visitors.
"Llandovery have a lot of experience and good players in key positions, I wasn't surprised that they won in Cardiff," said Strange, whose side enjoyed a last-minute semi-final win against Newport.
"We know it will be a huge challenge because they have threats all over the field, so it should be a great game and an advert for the SRC."
Ebbw were stunned at Eugene Cross Park in the inaugural SRC final but hope home advantage can help them get over the line after several near misses.
"Playing here is huge, not just for the team but the community," said Strange, who laid the foundations for the 2016 Premiership title triumph and returned to the club in 2021.
"The players are in a position where they are competing at the top on a regular basis, which is testament to all of the work that everyone in the club puts in."
Ebbw Vale will hope to be party-poopers before Rees starts his next chapter as director of rugby at Division Three West Whitland.