Matthew Rees returned to first-team action for the Scarlets at the weekend after a lengthy spell on the sidelines © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Warren Gatland | Matthew Rees | Sam Warburton

Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup | RaboDirect PRO12

Teams: Scarlets | Wales

Fit-again Wales hooker Matthew Rees has admitted that he does not know if he captain's armband will be handed back to him when he returns to the international arena later this year.

The 30-year-old front-row led his country in this year's Six Nations but a serious neck injury ruled him out of the Rugby World Cup and head coach Warren Gatland turned to flanker Sam Warburton to lead Wales in New Zealand.

Rees made his return to competitive rugby at the weekend, coming on as a replacement in the Scarlets' RaboDirect PRO12 win over Ulster in Lanelli and is hoping to return to international duty when Wales faced Australia in December. However, he is unsure if he will be doing so as captain.

"That is down to Warren," Rees told Wales Online. "As far as I am concerned Sam did a great job during the World Cup and the captaincy is a question for Warren."

Rees' primary concern for the moment is just to get back playing regularly with the Scarlets, who face regional rivals Ospreys in the PRO12 this weekend before kicking off their Heineken Cup campaign against Castres on Saturday week.

"It has been a frustrating couple of months because I would have been captain of Wales in the World Cup," he said. "Injuries happen and it could not have come at a worse time, but it is about looking forward now. The World Cup is over and I have drawn a line under that.

"I am looking forward to what is ahead, getting back some match fitness and getting back in the Welsh set-up. We have got a massive month ahead at the Scarlets and it is important for us and myself that we put everything into this month. If things go well then hopefully I can play a part in the Australia game in December."