Matty Rea

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Matthew Rea
Matt-rea-2019.jpg
Rea playing for Ulster, 2019
Date of birth (1993-09-21) 21 September 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight114 kg (18.0 st; 251 lb)
School Ballymena Academy
Notable relative(s) Marcus Rea (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number 8
Current team Ulster
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Ballymena ()
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2017– Ulster 104 (30)
Correct as of 20 December 2024 [1]

Matthew Rea (born 21 September 1993) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays for Ulster as a back row forward.

He was educated at Ballymena Academy, and helped the school win the 2010 Ulster Schools' Cup final. [2] He represented Ireland at under-19 level in 2011, [3] but was not offered a place in the Ulster Academy when he left school. [4] His performances for Ballymena in the All-Ireland League led to Ulster offering him a development contract ahead of the 2016–17 season. [5] He made his first professional rugby and Ulster appearance in September 2017 against the Cheetahs. [6] He made 18 appearances, including one start, [1] 111 tackles, 6 turnovers, and 24 lineouts won, in 2017–18; [7] nine appearances, and one start, in 2018–19; 19 appearances, and 14 starts, in 2019–20; 14 appearances, and 10 starts in 2020–21; and 10 appearances, including 7 starts, in 2021–22. [1] He made his 100th appearance for the province in the 2023–24 United Rugby Championship quarter-final. [8]

His younger brother Marcus, also a back row forward, made his debut for Ulster in 2018. [9]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Playing stats at ItsRugby.co.uk
  2. ↑ "Ballymena Academy 10-7 BRA", BBC Sport, 17 March 2010
  3. ↑ "Ulster U19 teams named for weekend fixtures", Ulster Rugby, 22 September 2011
  4. ↑ "Marcus Rea discusses scoring on Ulster debut alongside brother Matthew". Belfast Telegraph . 29 April 2019.
  5. ↑ Adam McKendry, "Ulster Rugby squad 2016/17", Belfast Live, 24 November 2016
  6. ↑ "Rea keen to make most of first team opportunity", 18 September 2017
  7. ↑ Matty Rea Player Profile, UlsterRugby.com, archived on 14 August 2018
  8. ↑ Adam McKendry, "Ulster confirm seven contract extensions as province finalise squad for next season", Belfast Telegraph, 13 June 2024
  9. ↑ "Marcus Rea scores game-winning try on debut as Ulster win dead rubber over Leinster". Belfast Telegraph . 27 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.


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