Matt Hodgson

Last updated

Matt Hodgson
Head of Rugby at Global Rapid Rugby
Assumed office
1 September 2017

Hodgson began his rugby career with his local team the Avoca Sharks in the NSW Central Coast town of Avoca Beach. At age 17, Hodgson was drafted by the New South Wales Waratahs as a flyhalf/centre and was redeveloped as a loose forward. However, he did not receive any Super Rugby caps for the franchise in that season, which saw him leave the club to represent amateur clubs to develop into a full-time flanker. While training with the Waratahs, Hodgson played for Sydney Club Rugby teams Eastwood Rugby Club (1999–2003) and Manly RUFC (2004–05). His form as a flanker, saw Hodgson receive a call up into the Australian under-21s team for the 2002 Under 21 Rugby World Championship. He started in the number 7 jersey in the grand final against South Africa under-21, who were the winning side 24–21 in Johannesburg. He was part of the Eastwood Rugby Club winning side in the 2002 Shute Shield, where he was named man-of-the match in the 19–15 win over Sydney University. [4]

2005 – Debut Super Rugby season

In 2005, Hodgson was a member of the Australian sevens side that finished seventh in the 2004–05 World Sevens Series. In addition to this, he got his first taste of international rugby, playing for the Australian A side against the Junior All Blacks in Canberra. [5] Further more, Hodgson signed with the Western Force, for their inaugural season of Super Rugby. [6] He made his super rugby debut at home, Subiaco Oval, against the Brumbies who were the victors in that match 25–10. At the end of his debut season with the Force, he was awarded the inaugural presentation of the 2006 Force Man award – a recognition given to the player deemed to best represent the club's values in all that they do both on and off the field. This award was again won by Hodgson in 2007, 2009 and in 2010.

2009 – Australia

Hodgson enjoyed a break-out season in 2009, earning his first Western Force Player of the Year award and first Wallabies call up. He debuted for Australia in the non-cap earning 55–7 annihilation of the Barbarians at Sydney Football Stadium. [7] A serious AC Joint injury sustained during the 39th minute sidelined Hodgson for 3 months, but he returned for the Spring Tour later that year and performed in the midweek matches against Gloucester and Cardiff Blues. [8] [9]

2010 Super rugby season saw Hodgson awarded his second Player of the Year award in so many years. Hodgson rounded off 2010 with two Man of the Match performances on Wallaby Spring tour against Munster and Leicester.

Hodgson's first test cap was a substitution from the bench in the 49–3 victory against Fiji in Canberra, during the 2010 mid-year rugby union internationals. He also made appearances from the bench in tests against England, New Zealand and Italy during the 2010 season. He earned his first starting position against Samoa in Sydney during the 2011 mid-year rugby union internationals. On that occasion Samoa won 32–23 in a shock victory. [10]

Hodgson was a member of the 2011 World Cup Squad, called up as an injury replacement for Wycliff Palu. [11]

Hodgson is contracted until the end of the 2015 Super Rugby Season with the Western Force. Hodgson is managed by the Fordham Company in Sydney.

Personal life

Hodgson is of Aboriginal descent. [12] In 2009, Hodgson graduated with a Bachelor of Exercise Science & Sports Management from Australian Catholic University. [13] [14] In 2011, he completed a Real Estate Sales Agent course.[ where? ] [13] He was reported to be enrolled in the Masters of Business Management (Sports Law) at Deakin University in December 2011. [13] Hodgson was awarded the 2011 RUPA Academic Award. [13]

Hodgson owns F45 Training West Leederville.[ clarification needed ] The first F45 Training franchise to open in Western Australia.[ clarification needed ] (Opened 26 May 2014)[ citation needed ]

Hodgson calls Perth home, is married to Jo Hodgson and father to Hunter Patrick Hodgson (born in 2013). [15]

Super Rugby statistics

As of 15 July 2017 [16]
SeasonTeamAppsStartSubMinsTCPGDGPtsYCRC
2006 Force 121028390000000
2007 Force 8533670000000
2008 Force 10553771000500
2009 Force 131038860000000
2010 Force 1313010401000510
2011 Force 131218890000000
2012 Force 14140101320001010
2013 Force 1412296420001000
2014 Force 16160126860003010
2015 Force 77055030001510
2016 Force 1111085520001000
2017 Force 98157320101000
Total140123179630190109840

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Harbour RFC</span> Australian rugby union club, based in Concord, NSW

The West Harbour Rugby Football Club is a team in the Shute Shield, the premier club rugby union football competition in New South Wales. The club is based in Concord in the Inner West of Sydney, and plays home matches at Concord Oval. Concord holds a place in rugby history as a venue for the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987. West Harbour's major sponsor is Burwood RSL and post match functions are held at Club Burwood. In 2020, the Pirates would play out of Drummoyne Oval as Concord Oval being NRL club Wests Tigers' training ground, the venue was deemed off limited for people in excess of the "bubble".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Dunning</span> Australian rugby union footballer and coach (born 1978)

Matthew Dunning is an Australian former rugby union footballer. He played as a prop for the Waratahs and Western Force in Super Rugby, and represented Australia. He coached the Balmain rugby club in Sydney 2013/2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocky Elsom</span> Australia international rugby union player

Rocky Elsom is an Australian former rugby union player. He played the positions of flanker and number eight. He was selected for 75 caps for Australia and scored 75 points. He is the most capped Australian blindside flanker. Elsom was the 76th Australian test captain, having replaced Stirling Mortlock in 2009 for two years. He played for the Wallabies from 2005 until 2011. Elsom played professionally for New South Wales, Brumbies and Leinster.

Scott Nicholas Gelling Staniforth is an Australian rugby union footballer who represented Australia at two Rugby World Cups, the successful 1999 campaign and again in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digby Ioane</span> Australian rugby union player

Digby Ioane is an Australian professional rugby union footballer who played for the Colorado Raptors in Major League Rugby (MLR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat McCabe (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

Pat McCabe is a former professional Australian rugby union player, now practising lawyer. He played for the Brumbies in the Super Rugby, and Warringah in Sydney, and represented Australia at various age grade levels before a senior debut in 2010. He was a utility player, able to cover inside centre, outside centre, winger or fullback.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurtley Beale</span> Rugby player

Kurtley James Beale is an Australian professional rugby union representative player who has made over 90 national representative appearances in a ten-year playing career at the world-class level. He is of Aboriginal descent, has had a long Super Rugby career with the New South Wales Waratahs and has played for the Melbourne Rebels and the Wasps club in England. Beale usually plays at full-back or centre but can play fly-half or winger. In 2011 Beale received the John Eales Medal, awarded to Australian rugby's Player of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lachlan Turner</span> Rugby player

Lachlan 'Lachie' David Turner is an Australian professional rugby union player who retired at the end of 2018 season. In his usual position of wing. He has a strong kicking game, which allows him to also play at fullback.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sekope Kepu</span> Rugby player

Sekope Kepu is an Australian professional rugby union player. He is a prop and currently plays for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He has previously played for Australian club New South Wales Waratahs, the French club Bordeaux, and London Irish. He also plays for Australia's Wallabies in international matches. Kepu made his international debut for Australia in 2008 and has been a regular in match-day squads ever since, now having played over 100 tests. Kepu is the most-capped prop to ever play for the Wallabies and is also one of the most-capped rugby players in history.

Darren Kevin Junee is an Australian former rugby union and rugby league footballer. He was an Australian rugby union representative and had a first grade rugby league career with the Sydney Roosters in the NSWRFL competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby union in Victoria</span>

Rugby union in Victoria describes the sport of rugby union being played and watched in the state of Victoria in Australia. The code was first introduced some time between the 1850s and 1880s but remained a minor sport played primarily in the private schools and amongst interstate expats. This has changed, particularly since the professionalisation of the game in the mid 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat O'Connor (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

Pat O’Connor is an Australian rugby union footballer. He has played for the Western Force and the Waratahs in Super Rugby, and for SU Agen in the Top 14. The position he usually plays is lock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Foley</span> Australian rugby player of Irish descent

Bernard Foley is an Australian rugby player of Irish descent. He plays professionally for the Australia national rugby team and the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby. He can cover both fullback and fly-half as well as inside centre. Foley has earned the nickname "the iceman" after successful game winning penalty goals, 2 August 2014, 18 October 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Hooper (rugby union)</span> Australian rugby union player

Michael Kent Hooper is an Australian professional rugby union player who is the former captain of the Australia national team, the Wallabies. His primary position is openside flanker.

Tetera Faulkner is an Australian professional rugby union player. He currently represents the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super Rugby competition. His regular playing position is prop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damien Fitzpatrick</span> Rugby player

Damien Nicholas Fitzpatrick is an Australia professional rugby union player of Irish descent. He currently plays for the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby. He was captain of the Sydney Rays team in the National Rugby Championship in 2017 and 2018. His position of choice is Hooker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Skelton</span> Australian rugby union player

William Skelton is an Australian rugby union player, who plays as a lock for La Rochelle in the French Top 14 competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ollie Hoskins (rugby union)</span> Australia international rugby union player

Ollie Hoskins is an Australian rugby union international player who started his career as a prop for the Western Force in Super Rugby and signed with London Irish in March 2016. When the club folded, Hoskins was signed by Saracens in June 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh Roach</span> Australian rugby union player

Hugh Roach is an Australian rugby union professional player who plays hooker for San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR) in the United States. He also plays for the USA Perpignan of Top 14 (France).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Smith (rugby union, born 1996)</span> Australian rugby union player

Ryan Smith is an Australian rugby union player who plays for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby. His playing position is lock.

References

  1. "Rapid Rugby 2019 Schedule on show" (PDF) (Press release). Global Rapid Rugby. 1 March 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2019.
  2. Rugby: Hodgson humbled to reach 100th cap for Force
  3. Qantas Wallabies announce 32 Man squad for Castrol Edge France Tour
  4. The history of rugby in Eastwood
  5. Junior All Blacks score late to pip Australia A
  6. Western Force sign sprint champion
  7. Australia 55 Barbarians 7
  8. "Tour match: Gloucester 5-36 Australia". The Guardian . 3 November 2009. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022.
  9. Cardiff Blues 3 Australia 31
  10. Samoa shock Wallabies
  11. Australia call up Turner, Hodgson for world cup Archived 27 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  12. "Indigenous Wallabies make their mark". ABC News. 6 August 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Western Force captain Nathan Sharpe wins third Medal of Excellence – Rugby World". rugbyworld.com. Rugby World. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  14. "Matt Hodgson,Achievement, After Dinner Speaker, Inspiration, Sport,rugby, speaker, australian speakers bureau". speakerbureau.com.au. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  15. Taylor, Nick (23 March 2013). "Hunter Hodgson new No.1 Force fan". au.news.yahoo.com. The West Australian. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  16. "Player Statistics". its rugby. Retrieved 15 July 2017.