Mathew Tait
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| Mathew Tait | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Mathew James Tait | ||
| Date of birth | February 6, 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Wolsingham, County Durham | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Weight | 14 st 2 lbs (90 kg) | ||
| Nickname | T-BONE, Taity, Small Face, Zeus[1], Box Head[citation needed] | ||
| School | Barnard Castle School | ||
| Notable relative(s) | Alex Tait | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Centre Wing |
||
| Clubs | Caps | (points) | |
| 2004- | Newcastle Falcons | 59+7 | (100)
Sale Sharks |
| National team(s) | |||
| 2005-present | England | 23 | (20) |
| 7's National teams | |||
| England | |||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Games | ||
| Silver | 2006 Melbourne | Rugby 7's |
| Silver | 2007 Rugby World Cup | Rugby Union |
Mathew Tait (born 6 February 1986 in Shotley Bridge, County Durham) is an English rugby union footballer. He is an outside centre, a fullback or wing. He plays his club rugby for the Guinness Premiership side Newcastle Falcons.
[edit] Playing career
Tait attended Barnard Castle School, where he was a member of the school 1st XV which appeared in the Daily Mail Cup Final for two successive seasons. The school has also produced England internationals Rob Andrew, Rory Underwood, and Tony Underwood. Mathew's younger brother, Alex, may soon follow in his footsteps; Alex Tait made his debut for the Newcastle Falcons in the 2007/08 Guinness Premiership season and has represented England U20s as a Fullback/Centre.
In 2002, he was capped as outside centre by England U16 then U18 and by England under 19 when he was still at school. This was where he was spotted by the National Academy manager, Brian Ashton, who selected him for the Junior National Academy in 2003-04. Because of Ashton’s belief in his pace, power and eye for a gap, the 18 year old was fast tracked straight into the Senior National Academy.
Newcastle Falcons signed the centre on contract in April 2004 while he was still finishing his A levels, in which he achieved 3 A's[2][3]. In May 2004 he made his debut in a Zurich Premiership game against London Irish and scored a try with his first touch of the ball. Tait has also played for England's rugby sevens team, he was a member of the side that won the Dubai Sevens in December 2004.
Tait gained media attention when Andy Robinson named him in the England starting XV for their opening 2005 Six Nations Championship game, against Wales on February 5. The game itself, which England lost 11-9, did not go well for Tait. He failed to make an impact either in offence or defence and was the victim of a number of big tackles from Gavin Henson before eventually being replaced. At 18 years old he was the second-youngest player to have played for England since World War II, with only his Newcastle team-mate Jonny Wilkinson having played at a younger age. He was dropped after the game but has since regained his place in the England squad, missing out on the first game of England's autumn season against New Zealand only through injury.
During his absence from the test squad, Tait was a regular member of England's rugby sevens team. He starred at the sevens tournament in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, finishing as the tournament's top try-scorer, with 9 tries, as he helped England to the silver medal.
At the end of March, Tait signed an extended contract to Newcastle Falcons[4], reportedly worth a six-figure sum.[citation needed]
In 2006, he started a Biomedical Science degree at Newcastle University[5], reportedly so that he can qualify as a doctor quickly when his rugby career is over[6].
In the 2007 Rugby World Cup he made a return to the England squad, and was the the youngest player in the squad. He made a big impact which helped England reach the final, making a dazzling 50 metre run passing several Springboks.
Comments made about his performance and ability during and after the 2007 World Cup include Mike Catt hailing him as "the future of English rugby"[7], particularly praising his performance against Tonga. Others have said he is "the exemplar of the coming generation"[8] and that he "came of age in the final"[9].
In the 2008 Six Nations Championship he scored a try in Template:England national rugby union team 33-10 win over Ireland
On May 3, 2008, Tait agreed a deal to leave the Falcons to sign for Sale Sharks
[edit] External links
- England profile
- Scrum.com player statistics
- Newcastle Falcons profile
- Tait Looks To A Bright Future
- Mathew Tait photo by sportingheroes.net
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