Ben Matwijow

Ben Matwijow
Date of birth (1990-02-14) 14 February 1990
Place of birth Sydney, Australia
Height 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight 112 kg (17 st 9 lb; 247 lb)
School Westfields Sports High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Western Force / Taranaki
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012−15 Northern Suburbs 54 (85)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014 NSW Country Eagles 9 (0)
2015 Canterbury 11 (0)
2016 Reds 11 (0)
2016− Taranaki 10 (10)
2017− Western Force ()
Correct as of 23 October 2016

Ben Matwijow (born 14 February 1990) is an Australian rugby union lock who is currently contracted to Australian franchise, the Western Force in the international Super Rugby competition[1] and the Taranaki Bulls in New Zealand's Mitre 10 Cup.[2]

Provincial career

Educated at Westfields Sports High School in the suburbs of Sydney, Matwijow first made a name for himself playing for the Northern Suburbs Rugby Club in the Shute Shield between 2012 and 2015. During that time he was called up to the NSW Country Eagles squad ahead of the inaugural National Rugby Championship in 2014. He played 9 times for the Country Eagles during the campaign, however that was to be his only season with them as he hopped across the Tasman Sea to play in New Zealand in 2015. It proved to be a successful switch as Matwijow played a key role in his side, Canterbury's, ITM Cup victory. He would again be on the move in 2016, heading to New Zealand's North Island to link up with Taranaki.[3]

Super Rugby career

Matwijow's domestic performances with Northern Suburbs brought him to the attention of Australia's Super Rugby franchises, however, despite training with the Rebels in 2012 and the Western Force in 2013, no contract offer was forthcoming. In fact he had to wait until 2016 before he earned his first Super Rugby cap. An injury to the Reds' Wallaby international Kane Douglas in the 2015 Rugby World Cup final opened up a space on their roster and Matwijow was selected to fill it. He made 11 appearances in his debut campaign, but Douglas' return to fitness towards the end of the year meant that Matwijow was on the move again, this time heading west to join the Western Force ahead of the 2017 season.[1]

Super Rugby statistics

As of 14 August 2016[4]
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesConsPensDropsPointsYelRed
2016 Reds11564550000000
Total11564550000000

References

  1. 1 2 "Matwijow joins Force for 2017". Rugby Australia. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "Ben Matwijow Port Taranaki Bulls Player Profile". TRFU. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "Ben Matwijow Rugby Australia Player Profile". Rugby Australia. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "Ben Matwijow itsrugby Player Statistics". itsrugby. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
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