Matt Perry (rugby player)
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- This article is about the rugby player. Other persons have been called Matthew Perry.
Matthew Brendan Perry (born 27 January 1977 in Bath) was an English rugby union footballer who played full back for Bath. He played internationally for England and the British and Irish Lions.
[edit] Biography
A talented cricketer, at Millfield school he captained a side including Adam Hollioake, later an England international.
England coach Clive Woodward, who had previously been backs' coach for Bath RFC selected Perry for his first match in charge against Australia in Autumn 1997. Perry played solidly; he preferred to run with the ball in hand rather than to kick it, and in so doing often managed to establish a target for his forwards.
In 1998, Perry went on England's "Tour to Hell" of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. During the 76-0 defeat by Australia, he played out of position at centre.
Aged 23, Perry became England's most capped full back with 35 caps at number 15, overtaking Jonathan Webb's record. A record that still stands today (2008). Perry went on the 2001 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, playing in all three tests. A back injury and loss of form saw him dropped from the England squad for Iain Balshaw; he later made way for both Jason Robinson and Josh Lewsey. Perry made his last start for England in December 2000 when he played against South Africa.
In 2004/5 he became a regular name on the Bath team sheet again. However, a bulging disc in his back resulted in spasms in his left leg, and he retired from playing rugby on 27 March 2007[1].
Perry works for The Wilsher Group, www.wilsher-group.com, a management consultancy company based near Bath.
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