Gareth Rees of Victoria, a four-time rugby World Cup veteran and former Team Canada captain, will be among well-known torchbearers who will carry the Olympic Flame throughout the final days of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.

Vanoc CEO John Furlong announced today that Rees along with celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger will carry the torch. The group also includes Canadian astronaut Julie Payette, singer Jann Arden, former Canuck Richard Brodeur, singer Michael Buble, former British Olympian Sebastian Coe, Terry Fox's father Rolly, Wayne Gretzky's father Walter, Canucks alumni Stan Smyl and B.C. Lions great Lui Passaglia.

In a poll conducted in 2007, the International Rugby Board cited Rees as one of the 12 greatest players of the 20th century. In Victoria, he played for St. Michaels University School and the University of Victoria.

He participated in an unprecedented four Rugby World Cups - 1987, 1991, 1995 and 1999 - and was the captain in 1995 and 1999.

During the 1990's, Rees was Canada's most well known player on the world rugby stage where his goal-kicking won countless matches, particularly Canada's 1993 match against Wales in Cardiff. After playing for University of Victoria, Castaway Wanderers, Vancouver Island Crimson Tide, British Columbia and Canada, Rees pursued a career overseas with Newport, Bedford, Merignac, Wasps and Harlequins. He won two 'Blues' while attending Oxford University in the annual Varsity match and played for the Barbarians three times on their Easter tour of south Wales and again against Leicester. Other overseas representation included appearances with La Cote D'Argent, Public School Wanderers, Penguins, Irish Wolfhounds, Major Stanley XV and Crawshays XV.

He retired from international play with a total of 492 points in 55 appearances for Canada, 25 of them as captain. In 2000, the Rugby Union Writers Club of Britain awarded him its Special Award, only the sixth person to be honoured.