FEW would have put Richie Rees at the head of Wales scrum-half candidates at the start of the season.

Yet the Swansea-born Blues scrum-half is right there at the front of the queue after a superb season.

In the absence of the injured Mike Phillips and Dwayne Peel, Rees found himself as one of three scrum-halves in Warren Gatland's Wales squad for the Six Nations.

It was achieved thanks to a spectacular climb following a blistering season with the capital region.

Although almost half of Rees's 50-plus Blues appearances have been off the bench, his performances during recent weeks — especially against Heineken Cup opponents Sale Sharks and Harlequins — presented a strong selection case to Wales coach Gatland.

"I feel this is my time," said Rees, whose career has taken him from Dunvant to the Ospreys, then London Irish and now the Blues.

"I have waited a long time for the chance.

"There are some quality scrum-halves in Wales and you just have to bide your time, keep doing what you are doing and hopefully the breaks will come your way.

Quality

"Mike Phillips is probably one of the best scrum-halves in the world at the moment, and you just have to look at the quality of Dwayne Peel and the experience he has had.

"Gareth Cooper came to the Blues this season and he is a good player, but everyone wants to start in their position for their region and that has been my focus.

"You just have to keep going. If you stop believing and wanting to play for Wales, then you might as well stop, so I never feared the call-up would not come.

"As soon as you want to stop playing at the highest level it is time to quit.

I never had the moment of doubt, and I suppose I always believed it would happen."

Players with lesser determination than Rees would have faded away by now.

His path at the Ospreys was blocked by New Zealanders Justin Marshall and Jason Spice, then Paul Hodgson with Irish and until recently Cooper, who held down the Blues' No. 9 shirt. But Rees refused to be subdued, even if it meant a spell away from Wales plying his trade in the Guinness Premiership.

He added: "I am the sort of guy who just wants to play rugby. Some guys are happy to sit things out, but I wanted to play.

"The opportunity came up from Brian Smith (ex-London Irish rugby director now with England), so I took it and thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

"I had signed for two seasons, but eventually asked to be released after one.

"When I played for London Irish against the Blues in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, I had a chat with Dai Young (Blues head coach) after the game. London Irish were very good about letting me come back to Wales, and the main reason I came back was to get the Welsh call-up. But I would not be able to put it into words until I have experienced running out wearing the Wales jersey."