Matthew "Matty" Ashurst is a professional rugby league footballer

Rugby league

Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

 who plays for St Helens in the European Super League

Super League

Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...

. Ashurst is predominantly a second-row forward and signed for the club from Wigan St Patrick's having previously played junior football for the Chorley Panthers. The 2009 season

Super League XIV

The 2009 Super League season is the fourteenth season of rugby league since the Super League format was introduced in 1996...

 turned out to be a break through year for the Academy product, with Ashusrt making 13 appearances for the first team, 10 of which came off the substitutes bench. He scored one try in these games. In 2010, his first team opportunities were far from halted, in fact enhanced thanks to injuries, and Ashurst managed to find the line much more than in his début year.

Début season (2009)

Ashurst made his first-team début for St Helens in a 38-12 win over Salford City Reds

Salford City Reds

Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...

 in round 5 of Super League XIV, where he came off the interchange bench.