"We had our end of season debrief at the Blues which was very important for us all to look at where we went wrong last season and ways to improve, both individually and collectively.

"The players are determined to have a better season.

"It looks as if Dai will be joining Wasps, so we will have to wait and see what the Club decides with regards to coaching next season. However we have a good Heineken Cup group to look forward to."

"Me, Jamie and Gethin were all together when we heard it and we all thought that it's a decent chance for us to push on and at least get to the quarter final or semi final stages.

"I think the Pool contains four teams that like to pass the ball around a bit, as opposed to last season when teams were keeping it tight, so that may suit us a bit more this year.

"We have the players out wide such as Tom James, Leigh Halfpenny, Chris Czekaj and Richard Mustoe who can cause a lot of damage, so hopefully that will suit us and we can build on that.

"We obviously have become even more familiar with Edinburgh after facing them in last seasons Heineken Cup and in the League, but we have to work around these things.

"That is why there is so much analysis of each others games. You have to come up with something different each time you play.

"I watched Racing Metro a bit last year and they have some marquee signings. It's nice for the players and the fans that we are facing teams such as Racing Metro and London Irish that we haven't faced before in the competition."

"London Irish have kept a core group of about 10 or 12 players that were there when I was in 06/07.

"I still speak to a few of them regularly and obviously our former scrum half Darren Allinson has moved up there, so I'm looking forward to playing against them.

"Overall they are pretty strong, but they are losing Steffon Armitage to Toulon which is a blow to them, however, I've no doubt they will be a tough team to beat again next season."

During the summer Rees enjoyed a few weeks away before joining up with his Wales team mates at the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel.

"It's was nice to get away from rugby altogether. I went to America and Spain and switched off, but I feel refreshed now and ready to play," added Rees.

"We are in a conditioning phase with Wales at the moment, but I'm just looking forward to the warm up games against England and Argentina.

"It's been a while since I played so I just want to get back on the pitch.

"Obviously the coaches will only take three scrum halves to the World Cup so a couple of the boys are going to miss out.

"Maybe I have a point to prove as I was suspended during the last Six Nations, so didn't have a chance to prove what I can do, but the ban is over and done with now and I just have to put my hand up for selection.

"In the autumn and the previous Six Nations it was me, Tavis and Mike in the squad, but this time all five of us will be competing for a starting spot.

"Perhaps Mike and Tavis are a bit more physical and Dwayne, Lloyd and I are maybe a bit quicker, however, it will be the coaches that have the final say on who goes to New Zealand."

The new Cardiff Blues shirt as modelled by Richie Rees will be on sale for the first time exclusively at the Cardiff City Stadium Megastore on Saturday 2 July.

Cardiff Blues stars Andries Preotrius, T Rhys Thomas and Fau Filise will be in store from 11am to 1pm.