By Alan Poole, Coventry Telegraph.
February 9 2015

...ambassador for club’s academy

Former Wasps captain Tom Rees has been unveiled as an ambassador for the club’s academy.

The flanker, who won 15 caps for England and was in line for the captaincy when a persistent knee injury cut short his career at the age of 28, will take up the voluntary role this month.

Rees, 30, will attend Wasps Academy events and provide a mentoring role for players coming through the academy. During this time, he will be able to share his knowledge of the game and also provide an insight into what it takes to succeed at the highest level in professional sport.

Having been forced to retire prematurely, Rees is forging a successful new career in medicine and is currently on a clinical attachment, walking the wards at West Middlesex Hospital, as a third-year medical student at Imperial College, London.

One of his priorities in his new role will be to stress the importance of young professionals pursuing an interest or continuing their studies outside of rugby.

“I am delighted to have been asked to return to Wasps to support the academy,” he said. “Wasps is a part of my DNA and it was a privilege to wear the black and gold and learn from so many legends of the game at the club.

“It’s great to be able to give something back and to try to provide a similar role for the young guys coming through.

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