The unlikely pathway that unearthed Scouse try-scoring menace Johnny Matthews
BKT URC top try-scorer Johnny Matthews is proof there’s more than one path to rugby stardom.
The hooker was 26 before he signed his first professional contract with Glasgow Warriors.
Moreover, his Scouse accent doesn’t automatically suggest a Scotland international.
But that’s precisely what he is, having made his Test debut during the World Cup, and he’s now a strong contender for the Guinness Six Nations on the back of his try-scoring exploits.
The 30-year-old has touched down eight times in the league this season, two more than his nearest rivals.
He was on the scoresheet once again last weekend, against Munster, having already claimed doubles versus Ulster, Ospreys and the DHL Stormers.
That’s taken him up to fifth on Glasgow’s all-time list with 32. Remarkably, that’s one more than Stuart Hogg.
It’s some story and an unusual one at that.
Matthews was born and raised in Liverpool, which influenced the sport he initially focused on.
“I was more into football when I was younger,” he says.
“Rugby wasn’t necessarily the biggest thing in Liverpool.
“There was pretty limited access to it, to be honest.
“I could tell you every Everton team that played, but maybe not any rugby players.”
However, things changed when he attended St Edward’s College, the school which produced England oval ball stars Mike Slemen and Kyran Bracken.
That led to him playing for Liverpool Collegiate RFC, before linking up with Leeds as a teenager.
From there, he had spells with Manchester-based Sedgley Park, Otley and Rotherham as he trod the rugby boards in the north of England.
But then, in 2017, came the big move as he headed up to Scotland, where his mother was born.
“I had done some pathway stuff with the Exiles and my coach there, Rob Brierley, got in touch and said there might be an opportunity for me up in Scotland with one of the Premiership teams which might lead into something else,” he explains.
So it was that Matthews spent “two great years” with Edinburgh club Boroughmuir before being signed up by Glasgow Warriors, initially as cover during the 2019 World Cup and then on a permanent basis.
He has gone from strength to strength since then, making his mark with his all-action approach and predatory prowess.
In May 2022, he became the first Glasgow hooker to score a hat-trick of tries, against Zebre Parma at Scotstoun.
Then, in April of this year, he set a new club record, as the first player in Warriors history to score five tries in a match, during a European Challenge Cup victory over Dragons RFC.
But then crossing the whitewash is nothing new to him. In one season with Sedgley Park, he touched down 29 times in 26 appearances.
So how does he explain his prolific strike-rate?
“It’s something I’ve tried to have as part of my game and I have always been able to find the line,” he said.
“But I’ve also been lucky enough to play in sides that had fantastic mauls. I have been on the back of a very good driving maul here for the past couple of years.
“I am always quick to credit the lads in front, especially with the maul, because without them the man at the back wouldn’t be able to get the ball over the line.
“We do work really hard on it in training and I think that shows through.”
But it’s not just the maul Matthews scores from, as demonstrated by his burst down the touchline for his second against Ulster in Round 6.
“It was great interplay by backs and forwards to create the overlap for me,” he says modestly.
“It just opened up in front of me and I was just happy I managed to finish it.
“I’ve just happened to be in the right place at the right time to get on the end of some good team tries.
“The main thing is winning games. If I happen to be the one that gets the ball down, that’s a bonus.”
As befits a serial scorer, Matthews has developed a special try celebration, mirroring that of former Everton striker Richarlison.
“I just dance about like a pigeon!” he says.
He’s now an international try-scorer too, having marked his Test debut with a touchdown against Romania in Lille after being called up to Scotland’s World Cup squad as a replacement.
So far, he has just the one cap to his name, but you wouldn’t bet against him adding to that tally in the Six Nations and beyond.
His form is pretty hard to ignore and he will be looking to carry that into the Investec Champions Cup where Glasgow Warriors are home to Northampton and away to Bayonne over the next couple of weeks.
Matthews may be something of a late developer, but he is certainly making the most of his time in top flight rugby now.
“I think it shows there’s definitely a different pathway to get into the professional game rather than just going through the Academy system,” he said.
“It’s maybe some hope for those boys that didn’t quite make it in the early stages that if you keep plying your trade and keep performing, the opportunities will come later on.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
139 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
139 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
139 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
139 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
139 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
139 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
139 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
139 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
139 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
139 Go to commentsHo hum.
139 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
139 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
1 Go to commentsLet’s be honest. The draw and scheduling in the World Cup was a joke but South Africa found a way after having to go the hard (nearly impossible) way to the Cup Final via France and England. NZ had a hard game against France (lost) and had 5 weeks to prepare for the Quarter, 3 weeks knowing it was Ireland. NZ theerfore had to win one big game against an Irish team who played SA and then Scotland 7 days before. They won and it was de facto a semi final because they were playing a relatively weak Argentina team and it was a walk over. In the final a very rested NZ team was playing a very tired SA team and still lost. They couldn’t score more than 11 points. Put another way SA had to find a way to win while tired and they achieved that. NZ should thank their lucky stars that they fixed the scheduling in 2015 otherwise they would be dealing with a Bok treble.
139 Go to commentsPerhaps if Bongi wasn’t targeted and removed from the game in the first 3 minutes it would have been quite a different game. Maybe if NZ also faced the same competition the Boks faced to their win NZ would have looked quite different. The final score shows who outplayed who.
139 Go to commentsRubbish article! Abuladze played most of Exeters matches when fit. He got injured against Glasgow a while ago and is out for the rest of the season, thats why he hasnt played for Exeter and Georgia recently. Do some proper research next time!
1 Go to commentsGotta love it when kids throw their toys out the pram and can’t hack it with the grown ups debate. Here’s looking at you turlough! 😉🤣
148 Go to commentsThey lost the game period move on
139 Go to commentsSpringboks won! Stop winging. You can change the game however much you and your rugby colonizing IRB want to and the Springboks will win you at that too. Your mind is colonized my friend get a life
139 Go to comments