{{short description|Wales international rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}} {{Use British English|date=October 2016}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |first = RU |name = Graham Rees |fullname = Graham Rees |image = |imagesize = |caption = |birth_date = 18 April 1936 |birth_place = Maesteg, Glamorgan, Wales |death_date = July 1987 (aged 51) |death_place = Prestwich, England |height = |weight = |ru_position = |position = {{rlp|PR|SR|LF}} |ru_club1 = Maesteg RFC |ru_year1start = |ru_year1end = |ru_appearances1 = |ru_tries1 = |ru_goals1 = |ru_fieldgoals1 = |ru_points1 = |club1 = Salford |year1start = ≤1968 |year1end = ≤68 |appearances1 = |tries1 = |goals1 = |fieldgoals1 = |points1 = |club2 = Swinton |year2start = ≤1968 |year2end = 68 |appearances2 = |tries2 = |goals2 = |fieldgoals2 = |points2 = |club3 = St. Helens |year3start = 1968 |year3end = 73 |appearances3 = 181 |tries3 = 33 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 99 |club4 = Salford |year4start = 1973 |year4end = ≥73 |appearances4 = |tries4 = |goals4 = |fieldgoals4 = |points4 = |teamA = Wales |yearAstart = 1968 |yearAend = 70 |appearancesA = 4 |triesA = |goalsA = |fieldgoalsA = |pointsA = |retired = yes |updated = 20 June 2012 |source = <ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/graham-rees/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Profile at saints.org.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.org.uk/saints/player.php?num=16221|title=Profile at saints.org.uk|publisher=saints.org.uk|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}</ref> }}
'''Graham Rees''' (18 April 1936 – July 1987) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Maesteg RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Salford (two spells) Swinton and St. Helens as a {{rlp|pr|sr}}, or {{rlp|lf}}.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/><ref name="Profile at saints.org.uk"/><ref>{{cite book| first1= Graham| last1= Williams| first2= Peter| last2= Lush| first3= David| last3= Farrar| title= The British Rugby League Records Book| publisher= London League| isbn= 978-1-903659-49-6| year= 2009| pages= 108–114}}</ref>
==Background== Graham Rees was born in Maesteg, Wales, and he died aged 51 in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, England.
==Playing career==
===International honours=== Graham Rees won caps for Wales (RL) while at St. Helens 1968-70 - 4-caps.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/>
===Challenge Cup Final appearances=== Graham Rees played at {{rlp|pr}} in St Helens' 16–13 victory over Leeds in the 1972 Challenge Cup Final during the 1971-72 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1972. He scored the first try of the game after just 35 seconds; the fastest try in Challenge Cup Final history.<ref name="Rugby League's home from home">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2000/wembley/944481.stm|title=Rugby League's home from home|publisher=bbc.co.uk|date=31 December 2011|access-date=1 January 2012 }}</ref>
===County Cup Final appearances=== Graham Rees played at {{rlp|sr}} in Swinton's 4–12 defeat by St. Helens in the 1964 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1964–65 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 24 October 1964, played at {{rlp|sr}}, and scored a try in St. Helens' 30–2 victory over Oldham in the 1968 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Central Park, Wigan on Friday 25 October 1968, and played at {{rlp|pr}} in the 4–7 defeat by Leigh in the 1970 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1970–71 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 28 November 1970.
===BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances=== Graham Rees played at {{rlp|sr}} in Swinton's 2–7 defeat by Castleford in the 1966 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1966–67 season at Wheldon Road, Castleford on Tuesday 20 December 1966, played at {{rlp|pr}} in St. Helens' 5–9 defeat by Leeds in the 1970 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1966–67 season at Headingley, Castleford on Tuesday 15 December 1970, and played at {{rlp|pr}} in the 8–2 victory over Rochdale Hornets in the 1971 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1971–72 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 14 December 1971.
==Death== On 1 August 1987, it was reported that Rees had died following a collapse shortly after playing squash at a club in Prestwich.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rugby League|work=The Guardian|date=1 August 1987|page=14 |id={{ProQuest|186810706}}}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
{{St. Helens - 1972 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rees, Graham}} Category:1936 births Category:1987 deaths Category:20th-century Welsh sportsmen Category:Maesteg RFC players Category:Rugby league locks Category:Rugby league players from Maesteg Category:Rugby league props Category:Rugby league second-rows Category:Rugby union players from Maesteg Category:Salford RLFC players Category:St Helens R.F.C. players Category:Swinton Lions players Category:Wales national rugby league team players Category:Welsh rugby league players Category:Welsh rugby union players