Matt Symons
{{Short description|English rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Matt Symons
| image =
| birth_name = Matt Symons
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|08|04|df=y}}
| birth_place = Harlow, England
| height = {{convert|2.00|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|121|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| school =
| university = University of Reading
| relatives = Andy Symons (brother)
| position = Lock
| youthyears1 = 1994–2006
| youthclubs1 = Saracens
| years1 = 2011–2012
| clubs1 = Esher
| apps1 = 14
| points1 = 5
| years2 = 2013–2015
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Canterbury}}
| apps2 = 15
| points2 = 5
| years3 = 2014–2015
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Chiefs}}
| apps3 = 28
| points3 = 5
| years4 = 2015–2016
| clubs4 = London Irish
| apps4 = 23
| points4 = 0
| years5 = 2016–2018
| clubs5 = Wasps
| apps5 = 31
| points5 = 5
| years6 = 2018–2022
| clubs6 = Harlequins
| apps6 = 89
| points6 = 0
| totalyears = 2011–2022
| totalapps = 200
| totalpoints = 20
| clubupdate = 30 June 2022
}}
Matt Symons (born 4 August 1989) is an English retired rugby union player who played 200 career games in a career spanning 11 seasons. He played for Esher in the RFU Championship before playing for currently plays for {{rut|Canterbury}} and {{rut|Chiefs}} in New Zealand; returning to England he played for London Irish, Wasps and Harlequins in Premiership Rugby. He won the Premiership with Harlequins in 2021.
Career
Symons has had an interesting route to the top. He started out in the Saracens youth system before leaving to pursue a career in rowing. An injury to his forearm ended his rowing career and saw him make a return to rugby. In 2011, he started playing professionally for Esher for whom he made 14 appearances.{{cite news|url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_24296.html|publisher=Its Rugby|title=Matt Symons itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics|date=20 January 2016|accessdate=20 January 2016}}
2012 saw him head south to New Zealand where he set up base in Christchurch and initially saw action for the Canterbury B side and Crusaders Knights development team before being named in the {{Rut|Canterbury}} squad for the 2013 ITM Cup. He became a regular starter in his first full season and earned himself a Super Rugby contract with two-time champions the {{Rut|Chiefs}} for the 2014 Super Rugby season.{{cite news|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2013/rugby/story/199797.html|publisher=ESPN Sports|title=Chiefs sign English lock from Canterbury|date=20 January 2016|accessdate=20 January 2016}}
On 25 March 2015, Symons returned to his home nation to sign for London Irish in the Aviva Premiership from the 2015-16 season following Chiefs assistant coach Tom Coventry to the English side.{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12040/9775149/london-irish-confirm-signing-of-lock-matt-symons-from-chiefs|publisher=Sky Sports|title=London Irish have signed English-born lock forward Matt Symons from Super Rugby side Waikato Chiefs|date=25 March 2015|accessdate=15 September 2015}}
On 28 June it was confirmed that Symons had terminated his contract with London Irish after their relegation to the Green King IPA Championship and signed for former London rival Wasps.
On 23 May 2018, Symons would sign for Premiership rivals Harlequins from the 2018-19 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.quins.co.uk/news/harlequins-sign-second-row-matt-symons/|publisher=Quins|title=HARLEQUINS SIGN SECOND ROW MATT SYMONS|date=23 May 2018|accessdate=19 April 2021}}
He started in the Premiership final against Exeter on 26 June 2021 as Harlequins won the game 40-38 in the highest scoring Premiership final ever.{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57608106
|title=Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 38-40 Harlequins - Louis Lynagh's late double clinches title
|publisher=BBC
|date=26 June 2021 |access-date=1 July 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Symons, Matt}}
Category:Alumni of the University of Reading
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Canterbury rugby union players
Category:Harlequin F.C. players
Category:Chiefs (Super Rugby) players
Category:Rugby union players from Harlow
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