Matt
Burke

Matt Burke is a Rugby World Cup winner who left a lasting impact on the game.

Matt Burke Bio

Matt Burke is a former Wallaby who is one of the greatest fullbacks to ever play the sport. During his distinguished career, he was a regular try scorer for Australia and he won the Rugby World Cup in 1999. Matt Burke was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame in 2021.

Matt Burke began playing rugby at a young age and his immediate talent for the game was recognised early, when he was selected to represent the Australian Schoolboys. During this time, he also began playing club rugby for Eastwood. Although he officially only represented the side between 1990 and 1996, he maintained his association with the club throughout his career.

For the majority of his career, Matt Burke represented the New South Wales Waratahs, where he is still widely regarded as a club legend. As a result of the successes he achieved with the side, the player of the year for the Waratahs is now awarded the Matt Burke Cup.

However, when his Super Rugby contract was not renewed in 2004, Matt Burke left Australia and signed for the Newcastle Falcons. He then stayed with the side until 2008, when he retired.

Although he enjoyed a distinguished domestic career, Matt Burke is best known for his time representing the Wallabies. Between 1993 and 2004, he made 81 appearances for the side. During this time, he won the Rugby World Cup and multiple Bledisloe Cups. At the time of his retirement, he held 22 Australian Rugby records and seven international records.

As a result of his performances for his country, Matt Burke was voted as the Wallaby of the Year in 1996. On top of this, he was also voted as the starting fullback in the Wallaby Team of the Decade in 2005.

Since retiring from the game in 2008, Matt Burke has opened a sports business. He also works as a sports presenter in Australia.