David Matthews (rugby union)
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| Born | David Joseph Matthews 17 April 1937 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Died | 19 June 2019 (aged 82) | ||||||||||||||||
| School | Oakham School | ||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Farmer | ||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
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David Joseph Matthews (17 April 1937 – 19 June 2019)[1] was an English rugby union flanker who played a record 502 games for Leicester Tigers from 1955 to 1974 as well as for Leicestershire, Midlands Counties (East) and the Barbarians. At Leicester he was also a coach, director and was a life member.
Matthews joined Tigers direct from Oakham School making his debut as an 18 year old on 3 September 1955 against Bedford at Welford Road. He took a while to establish himself in the club's first team playing only 9 matches over the next 2 seasons but became a regular in the 1957/58 season playing 32 games. Between 1961 and 1963 Matthews played in a record 109 successive games, including every game of 1961/62 and 1962/63 seasons. Matthews was the club's leading try scorer in 1962/63 with 11 tries and set a record for a forward in 1968/69 when he scored 21 tries in 43 games, this was Matthews third ever present season a club record. Matthews was club captain from 1965–1968. Matthews scored his 100th club try against Bristol at the Memorial Ground on 5 April 1969 and ended his career with 119 tries; a record for a forward until Neil Back broke it in 2005. He broke the club's all-time appearance record against Broughton Park on 21 April 1973 with his 492-game and became the only player to make 500 appearances when he played against Northampton on 23 February 1974.[2]
Matthews played in three England trials in 1965–67 without gaining a cap but did face Australia and, despite anti-apartheid protests, against the Springboks with Midlands Counties (East).[3]
Matthews' career lasted 18 years and 187 days, spanning 779 Tigers games in 19 seasons. On both counts this is the second longest Tigers career after Graham Willars.[4]
In February 2011 Matthews was named 56th in Leicestershire's 100 Sporting Greats by the Leicester Mercury.[5]
