Matt Perry (rugby union)
{{short description|British Lions & England international rugby union player}}
{{other people|Matthew Perry}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{infobox rugby biography
| name = Matt Perry
| image =Matt Perry and Wiltshire Air Ambulance.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =Matt Perry and Wiltshire Air Ambulance
| alt =
| birth_name = Matthew Brendan Perry
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1977|1|27}}
| birth_place = Bath, Somerset, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}
| weight = {{convert|13|st|12|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
| school = Millfield School
| relatives = Idris Perry, Brendan Perry
| ru_currentteam =
| position = Full Back
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1997–2006
| clubs1 = Bath
| apps1 = 221
| points1 = 561
| ru_clubupdate =
| provinceyears1 =
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| provincepoints1 =
| superyears1 =
| super1 =
| superapps1 =
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| repyears1 = 1997–2001
| repyears2 = 2001
| repteam1 = England
| repteam2 = Lions
| repcaps1 = 36
| repcaps2 = 3
| reppoints1 = 50
| reppoints2 = 0
| ru_ntupdate =
| repsevensyears1 =
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| coachyears1 =
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}}
Matthew Brendan Perry (born 27 January 1977 in Bath, Somerset){{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/player/12708.html|title=Matt Perry|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=27 January 2023}} is an English former rugby union player who played fullback for Bath. He played internationally for England and the British & Irish Lions.
Youth and early career
A cricketer, at Millfield School Perry captained a side including Ben Hollioake, later an England international.{{cite news|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/meet-men-who-could-played-9036373|title=Meet the men who could have played for Wales but opted for the Red Rose instead...|first=Anthony|last=Woolford|publisher=WalesOnline|date=13 April 2015|accessdate=27 January 2023}} He made his debut for Bath's first team towards the end of the amateur era in December 1995.{{cite news|url=https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/sport/1289257.injury-forces-perry-to-retire/|title=Injury forces Perry to retire|work=Wiltshire Times|date=27 March 2007|accessdate=27 January 2023}} Perry went to South Africa to play for the Durban Crusaders' under-21 side for four months in 1996.{{cite news|title=Champagne style of Perry vintage|first=Robert|last=Armstrong|work=The Guardian|date=13 September 1997|page=A10}} {{ProQuest|188075119}}{{cite news|title=New post lets Perry enjoy life to the full|first=David|last=Hands|work=The Times|date=22 November 1997|page=35}} {{ProQuest|317873586}} This caused him to give up a place at University College, Cardiff.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/rugbycup/Story/0,,202421,00.html|title=Battered Perry back for more|first=Robert|last=Kitson|work=The Guardian|date=22 October 1999|accessdate=28 January 2023}} On returning to the UK, Perry rejoined Bath. He played 221 times for the club before retiring in 2007.{{cite news|url=https://www.ruck.co.uk/baths-greatest-players-is-this-baths-greatest-all-time-xv/|title=Bath's greatest players: Is this Bath's greatest all-time XV?|work=Ruck|date=28 August 2018|accessdate=27 January 2023}} He played in eight of Bath's nine matches in their winning 1997–98 Heineken Cup campaign, being omitted only from the final against Brive in Bordeaux in favour of Jon Callard, where he was named as a replacement.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/jan/13/rugbyunion.comment1|title=Bath hope return to Europe can help widen their horizons|first=Robert|last=Kitson|work=The Guardian|date=13 January 2006|accessdate=27 January 2023}}{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-perry-waxes-philosophical-after-axe-as-bath-turn-to-callards-trusty-boot-1141422.html|title=Rugby Union: Perry waxes philosophical after axe as Bath turn to Callard's trusty boot|first=Chris|last=Hewitt|work=The Independent|date=28 January 1998|accessdate=27 January 2023}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/4445239.stm|title=Perry aims to open new chapter|first=Ed|last=King|publisher=BBC Sport|date=15 April 2005|accessdate=27 January 2023}}
England rugby
England coach Clive Woodward, selected Perry for his first match in charge against Australia in the autumn 1997.{{cite news|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/story/69398.html|title=Matthew Perry - One of the good guys|first=Huw|last=Richards|publisher=ESPN|date=28 March 2007|accessdate=27 January 2023}} Perry was awarded Man of the Match on his debut.{{cite news|title=Rugby Union World Cup:Perry won't bottle the Fiji air raid|first=Alex|last=Spink|work=Daily Mirror|date=20 October 1999|page=38}} {{ProQuest|338219180}} In the Rugby Football Union's 1997/98 awards, Perry was recognised as the young player of the year.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/sporting-digest-rugby-union-1158076.html|title=Sporting Digest: Rugby Union|date=22 May 1998|accessdate=27 January 2023}}
In 1998, Perry went on England's "Tour to Hell" of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. During the 76–0 defeat by Australia, he played out of position at centre.{{cite news|url=https://www.ruck.co.uk/australia-76-0-england-where-are-the-starting-xv-now/|title=Australia 76-0 England: Where Are The Starting XV Now?|work=Ruck|date=10 April 2018|accessdate=27 January 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/23722690/espnscrum-rewind-1998-england-rugby-1998-tour-hell-australia-south-africa-new-zealand|title=England's 1998 Tour from Hell to Australia, South Africa and New Zealand|first=Huw|last=Richards|publisher=EPSN|date=7 June 2018|accessdate=27 January 2023}} He was part of England's squad for the 1999 Rugby World Cup.{{cite news|url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/rugby-world-cup/five-memorable-moments-1999-rugby-world-cup-102479|title=Five memorable moments from the 1999 Rugby World Cup|first=Jacob|last=Whitehead|work=Rugby World|date=14 September 2019|accessdate=27 January 2023}}
Aged 23, Perry beat Jonathan Webb's record to become England's most capped full back with 35 caps in the position,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/story/0,3604,404283,00.html|title=Perry back as England opt for rotating bench|first=Robert|last=Kitson|work=The Guardian|date=29 November 2000|accessdate=27 January 2023}}{{cite news|title=Now for the fine tuning|first=Donald|last=Trelford|work=Daily Telegraph|date=5 December 2000|page=43}} {{ProQuest|317435329}} a record that has since been overtaken by Mike Brown.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/14949947/matt-perry-heralds-record-breaking-england-fullback-mike-brown|title=Matt Perry heralds record-breaking England fullback Mike Brown|first=Tom|last=Hamilton|publisher=ESPN|date=12 March 2016|accessdate=27 January 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/former-england-star-mike-brown-trains-signs-with-leicester-as-six-nations-cover-k66x0pjc2|title=Former England star Mike Brown trains with Leicester Tigers in bid to earn contract|first=Will|last=Kelleher|work=The Times|date=26 January 2023|access-date=27 January 2023}} He went on to score 10 tries for England.{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/player/12708.html?class=1;template=results;type=player;view=match|title=Match by match list|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=27 January 2023}} A back injury saw him dropped from the England squad for Iain Balshaw; he later made way for both Jason Robinson and Josh Lewsey.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-30039825.html|title=Six Nations: Perry to play for second string|work=Irish Examiner|date=13 February 2002|accessdate=27 January 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/woodward-rewards-lewsey-s-patience-with-england-call-121332.html|title=Woodward rewards Lewsey's patience with England call|first=Chris|last=Hewitt|work=The Independent|date=5 March 2003|accessdate=27 January 2023}} Perry made his last appearance for the England senior team in 2001 when he played against France. Perry subsequently went on the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, playing in all three tests.
Later career
Perry continued to play for Bath after his final England appearance, but was plagued by injuries. He was forced to withdraw from the 2004 Zurich Premiership final due to a calf strain sustained in the pre-match warm-up.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/2379874/Warm-up-injury-the-final-straw-for-Perry.html|title=Warm-up injury the final straw for Perry Rupert|first=Rupert|last=Bates|work=Daily Telegraph|date=30 May 2004|accessdate=27 January 2023}}
Retirement
A bulging disc in Perry's back resulted in spasms and sciatic damage in his left leg, and he retired from playing rugby on 27 March 2007.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/bath/6498315.stm|title=Injured Perry ends playing career|publisher=BBC Sport|date=27 March 2007|accessdate=23 January 2023}} On ending his rugby career, he was reported to be joining a consultancy company.{{cite news|url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/2007/03/27/perry-announces-retirement/|title=Record-breaking former England back Matt Perry has announced his retirement from the game|publisher=Six Nations Rugby|date=27 March 2007|accessdate=27 January 2023}} He is the founder and director of the company Transition 15.{{cite web|url=https://www.transition15.com/our-team/|title=Our team|publisher=Transition 15|accessdate=27 January 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/ex-bath-rugby-star-matt-173444|title=Ex-Bath Rugby star Matt Perry talks confidence, excitement and yachts on the Lions tour of New Zealand|first=Daniel|last=Evans|work=Bath Chronicle|date=6 July 2017|accessdate=27 January 2023}}
Family
Perry's father Brendan and grandfather Idris also played for Bath.{{cite news|url=https://www.ruck.co.uk/the-england-players-you-may-have-forgotten-were-selected-for-the-british-and-irish-lions/2/|title=The England players you may have forgotten were selected for the British and Irish Lions|work=Ruck|date=21 April 2020|accessdate=22 January 2023}} One of Perry's grandmothers was from the town of Ballyhaunis in County Mayo, Ireland.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishpost.com/news/losing-mum-made-want-help-london-irishmans-loss-inspires-charity-sport-challange-119454|title='Losing my mum made me want to help': London Irishman's loss inspires sports challange|work=The Irish Post|date=25 April 2017|accessdate=27 January 2023}} He has two sons.{{cite news|url=https://www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk/ex-rugby-star-matt-perrys-fundraising-in-memory-of-his-sister|title=Ex-rugby star Matt Perry's fundraising in memory of his sister|publisher=Wiltshire Air Ambulance|accessdate=27 January 2023}}
Charitable support
Perry is proud ambassador of Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity.{{Cite web |last=Charity |first=Matt Perry {{!}} Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance |title=Matt Perry |url=https://www.wiltshirebathairambulance.org.uk/our-lifesaving-work/our-team/matt-perry |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.bathrugbyheritage.org/content/heritage-topics/people/player-profiles/perry-matt Profile] at Bath Rugby Heritage
{{England 1999 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{British and Irish Lions 2001}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perry, Matt}}
Category:People educated at Millfield
Category:Rugby union players from Bath, Somerset
Category:English rugby union players
Category:England international rugby union players
Category:Rugby union fullbacks
Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England
Category:English people of Irish descent