Jack Matthews
Encyclopedia
Jack Matthews OBE is a former Wales rugby union
international centre who played first-class club rugby for Cardiff
and Newport. Along with Bleddyn Williams
, Matthews formed a centre partnership which is regarded as one of the finest in the game. Matthews won 17 caps for Wales
and six with the British Lions
, though his career was curtalied by the Second World War. A General Practitioner by profession he travelled, with the 1980 Lions
on their tour of South Africa as the team doctor.
, South Wales in 1920, Matthews attended Bridgend County School before matriculating to the University College Cardiff. From a youth he was a keen sportsperson, and in 1937 he won the Welsh AAA junior 220 yards title. A year later, after spending three seasons in the Welsh Secondary Schools rugby team, he played in a senior Wales trail, at just eighteen years old. In 1939 he came second in the Senior Men's AAA 100 yards and third in the 220 yards.
, but was required to train as a doctor at the Welsh School of Medicine. Matthews was later commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps
. Bleddyn Williams
, an RAF trainee and later Matthew's centre partner for Wales, played with Matthews for the first time whilst stationed in South Wales. The duo were part of a South Wales team that faced an Ack Ack XV in 1942. Williams was later switched to and trained as a glider
pilot, attached to the Glider Pilot Regiment
.
Whilst stationed at RAF St Athan air base in the Vale of Glamorgan in 1943, Matthews fought future world champion Rocky Marciano
in an amateur boxing
match. Marciano famously ended his career having won every professional match he fought in, but Matthews held him to a draw.
for Wales
and six for the British and Irish Lions
on their 1950 tour of New Zealand and Australia. He was the team doctor for the 1980 British Lions tour to South Africa
, and was a medical doctor by profession. Matthews played centre for Wales and Cardiff - forming one of the greatest midfield pairings Wales has ever had with Bleddyn Williams
.
Despite his close links with rugby, Matthews has shown an uncomprimising stance in his views on how the game should be played. In 2004 he publicly attacked Sir Clive Woodward
's coaching methods before the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
. In the 1981 Queen's Honours Birthday List, he was awarded the OBE.
In 2009, Matthews suffered from a severe stroke that left him speechless.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
international centre who played first-class club rugby for Cardiff
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
and Newport. Along with Bleddyn Williams
Bleddyn Williams
Bleddyn Williams MBE , was a Welsh rugby union centre. He played in 22 internationals for Wales, captaining them five times, winning each time, and captained the British Lions in 1950 for some of their tour of Australia and New Zealand...
, Matthews formed a centre partnership which is regarded as one of the finest in the game. Matthews won 17 caps for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
and six with the British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
, though his career was curtalied by the Second World War. A General Practitioner by profession he travelled, with the 1980 Lions
1980 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1980 the British Lions rugby union team toured South Africa . The tour was not a success in terms of international results, the Lions losing the first three tests before salvaging some pride with a win in the fourth...
on their tour of South Africa as the team doctor.
Early history
Born in BridgendBridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
, South Wales in 1920, Matthews attended Bridgend County School before matriculating to the University College Cardiff. From a youth he was a keen sportsperson, and in 1937 he won the Welsh AAA junior 220 yards title. A year later, after spending three seasons in the Welsh Secondary Schools rugby team, he played in a senior Wales trail, at just eighteen years old. In 1939 he came second in the Senior Men's AAA 100 yards and third in the 220 yards.
Second World War
With the outbreak of the Second World War, Matthews applied to join the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, but was required to train as a doctor at the Welsh School of Medicine. Matthews was later commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
. Bleddyn Williams
Bleddyn Williams
Bleddyn Williams MBE , was a Welsh rugby union centre. He played in 22 internationals for Wales, captaining them five times, winning each time, and captained the British Lions in 1950 for some of their tour of Australia and New Zealand...
, an RAF trainee and later Matthew's centre partner for Wales, played with Matthews for the first time whilst stationed in South Wales. The duo were part of a South Wales team that faced an Ack Ack XV in 1942. Williams was later switched to and trained as a glider
Glider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
pilot, attached to the Glider Pilot Regiment
Glider Pilot Regiment
The Glider Pilot Regiment was a British airborne forces unit of the Second World War which was responsible for crewing the British Army's military gliders and saw action in the European Theatre of World War II in support of Allied airborne operations...
.
Whilst stationed at RAF St Athan air base in the Vale of Glamorgan in 1943, Matthews fought future world champion Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano , born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was an American boxer and the heavyweight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times...
in an amateur boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
match. Marciano famously ended his career having won every professional match he fought in, but Matthews held him to a draw.
Rugby career
Before winning his first cap, Matthews took part in five Victory Internationals for Wales, including the win over France in which he was captain. Matthews played 17 TestsTest match (rugby union)
Test match in rugby union is a match recognised as being a full international match by at least one of the participating teams' governing bodies. It is an unofficial but widely used term in the sport....
for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
and six for the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
on their 1950 tour of New Zealand and Australia. He was the team doctor for the 1980 British Lions tour to South Africa
1980 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1980 the British Lions rugby union team toured South Africa . The tour was not a success in terms of international results, the Lions losing the first three tests before salvaging some pride with a win in the fourth...
, and was a medical doctor by profession. Matthews played centre for Wales and Cardiff - forming one of the greatest midfield pairings Wales has ever had with Bleddyn Williams
Bleddyn Williams
Bleddyn Williams MBE , was a Welsh rugby union centre. He played in 22 internationals for Wales, captaining them five times, winning each time, and captained the British Lions in 1950 for some of their tour of Australia and New Zealand...
.
Later life
Matthews continued his connection with sport after retiring from playing rugby. He maintained links with boxing, becoming the medical officer to the Welsh Boxing Association. He was also chosen to be the medical doctor for the 1980 British Lions tour of South Africa.Despite his close links with rugby, Matthews has shown an uncomprimising stance in his views on how the game should be played. In 2004 he publicly attacked Sir Clive Woodward
Clive Woodward
Sir Clive Ronald Woodward OBE is an English former rugby union player and coach. He was coach of the team from 1997 to 2004, managing them to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He is currently the British Olympic Association's Director of Elite Performance.-Early life:Woodward was born in Ely...
's coaching methods before the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
In 2005 the British and Irish Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time since 1993, playing 7 tour matches against first and second division clubs from the National Provincial Championship series, 1 tour match against the national New Zealand all Māori club, and 3 official test...
. In the 1981 Queen's Honours Birthday List, he was awarded the OBE.
In 2009, Matthews suffered from a severe stroke that left him speechless.