 Mathias representing Scarlets during the United Rugby Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 29 July 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Haverfordwest, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 113 kg (249 lb; 17 st 11 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Tasker Milward Voluntary Controlled School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Wales Trinity Saint David | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kemsley Mathias (born 29 July 1999) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Wales national team. [1]
Mathias first played tag rugby for Llangwm RFC, before stepping up to Narberth RFC, where he played alongside future Scarlets teammate Ryan Conbeer. [2] Mathias joined the Scarlets academy, and was also registered to local clubs Carmarthen Quins RFC and Llandovery RFC. [2]
Mathias was named in the Scarlets first-team squad for the 2020–21 Pro14 season. [3] Originally slated to make a possible debut off the bench along with fellow academy product Iestyn Rees in the EPCR Challenge Cup match against Toulon on 18 December 2020, Mathias was forced to wait, as the match was called off due to COVID-19 cases. [4] [5] He finally made his Scarlets debut in Round 11 of the 2020–21 Pro14 against Cardiff Blues. [6] On 29 May 2021, Mathias signed his first professional contract with the Scarlets. [7]
In 2021, Mathias completed a degree in Exercise and Sport Science at University of Wales Trinity Saint David, while pursuing his rugby career. [8]
Mathias scored his first try for the Scarlets on 27 January 2023, in the 37–28 win over the Bulls. [9] Mathias signed a contract extension with the Scarlets on 20 April 2023, along with fellow prop Sam Wainwright. [10]
While attending Sir Thomas Picton School, Mathias was selected for Wales U18 on their tour to South Africa in 2017, starting against England and scoring a try in the win. [11] The following year, Mathias was first selected for Wales U20, and made 11 appearances for the side over two seasons. Mathias was part of the team what beat New Zealand U20 in the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.
On 1 May 2023, Mathias was called up to the Wales 54-man training squad ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. [12] Mathias made his debut on 12 August 2023, coming off the bench against England in the 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches. [13]
Mathias was named in the Wales squad for the 2024 Six Nations Championship, and came off the bench in the final match against Italy. [14]
The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh rugby union teams and are based in Llanelli, Wales. Their home ground is the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the United Rugby Championship and in European Professional Club Rugby competitions. The club was originally named the Llanelli Scarlets but was renamed at the start of the 2008–09 rugby season.
Dragons RFC are one of the four professional rugby union regional teams in Wales. They have been owned by Dragons RFC Ltd since 2023, having been solely owned by the Welsh Rugby Union from 2017 to 2023 and jointly owned by the WRU and Newport RFC between 2004 and 2017. Dragons play their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport, which was the home of Newport RFC from 1877 to 2017, and is shared with Newport County AFC, the city's English Football League team. They play in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup/European Rugby Challenge Cup. The region they represent covers an area of southeast Wales including Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen with a total population approaching 600,000 and they are affiliated with a number of semi-professional and amateur clubs throughout the area, including Pontypool RFC, Caerphilly RFC, Cross Keys RFC, Ebbw Vale RFC and Newport RFC.
John Davies is a former Welsh rugby union prop. He spent much of his professional career playing for Llanelli RFC, and subsequently the Llanelli Scarlets regional side, where he now works as an academy coach. Davies also made 34 appearances for the Wales national team, scoring two tries.
Kenneth James Owens is a former Welsh rugby union player who played as a hooker for the Scarlets and Wales. He made his debut for the Scarlets in 2006, taking over from Matthew Rees as their first-choice hooker upon Rees' departure for the Cardiff Blues in 2013. He also served as backup to Rees, among others, for Wales following his debut against Namibia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. In 2016, he took over as Wales' first-choice hooker, and in January 2023, following almost a year out with a back injury, he was named as captain for the 2023 Six Nations Championship.
Joshua Turnbull is a Welsh former professional rugby union player, who played in the back row and second row. He played for the Scarlets and Cardiff Rugby in the United Rugby Championship, and at club level for Carmarthen Quins, Llanelli and Llandovery. He played internationally for Wales at under-16, under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels, Wales 7s and earned 13 caps for the senior team between 2011 and 2022. Born in Haverfordwest, he is a fluent Welsh speaker.
Robert McCusker is a Welsh former rugby union player, who played across the back row. McCusker began his career with the Scarlets, and also played for London Irish and the Ospreys before retiring. McCusker also played internationally for Wales.
Samson Lee is a Welsh former professional rugby union player. Lee played for the Scarlets, as well as local teams Llanelli and Ammanford. His position is prop forward. Lee has represented Wales, making his debut against Argentina in November 2013.
Jordan Rhys Williams is a Welsh rugby union footballer who plays for the Dragons. His regular position is at full-back, but he has also played at fly-half and on the wing. He began his career with amateur side New Dock Stars RFC, before being signed by Llanelli RFC and ultimately breaking into the Scarlets regional side. However, he struggled to find playing time with the Scarlets and moved to Bristol in 2016, only to return to Wales with the Dragons two years later. He has also played internationally for Wales at under-16, under-18 and under-20 level, as well as for the Wales Sevens team.
Alex Jeffries is a Welsh former professional rugby union player who played as a prop. He retired from rugby due to a neck injury in April 2023.
Wyn Jones is a Welsh rugby union player who plays prop for Harlequins.
Leon Michael Brown is a Welsh former professional rugby union player who played as a prop for the Dragons and the Wales national team.
Aaron James Wainwright is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a number eight for United Rugby Championship club Dragons and the Wales national team.
Taine Owen Basham is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship club Dragons and the Wales national team.
Kieran Richard Hardy is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for United Rugby Championship club Ospreys and the Wales national team.
The 2020–21 season is the 17th season in the history of the Scarlets, a Welsh regional rugby union side based in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. In this season, they competed in the Pro14 and the Champions Cup.
Carwyn Tuipulotu is a Welsh rugby union player, currently playing for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Scarlets. His preferred position is flanker or number 8.
Iestyn Rees is a Welsh rugby union player, who previously played for Scarlets and Ampthill as a flanker.
Joe Roberts is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Wales national team.
The 2022–23 season is the 19th season in the history of the Scarlets, a Welsh regional rugby union side based in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. In this season, they are competing in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Challenge Cup.
Sam Wainwright is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club the Scarlets. He is a Wales international, and has also appeared for the U20 team.
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