Matthew Cook (rugby union)

Matt Cook

Personal information
Full name	Matthew James Cook
Date of birth	17 May 1978
Place of birth	Saint Helier, Jersey
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	244 pounds (111 kg)
School	De La Salle College
Club information
Position	Flanker, Number 8
Current club	Tunbridge Wells
Youth clubs
Years Club Jersey
Senior clubs*
Years Club Apps (points) 1999–2003 2003–2005 2005–2013 2013– Bedford Blues Blaydon La Vila Tunbridge Wells
Representative teams
2010– Spain
* Professional club appearances and points counted for domestic first grade only.

Matthew "Matt" James Cook (born 17 May 1978)^[1] is a Jersey-born Spanish international rugby union player. He plays as a Flanker^[2] or a Number 8. Cook currently plays on an amateur basis for Tunbridge Wells RFC^[3] and the Spain national rugby union team.

Personal life

Born in Saint Helier, Cook was educated at De La Salle College.^[4]

Career

Cook started to play rugby at the age of 6 for Jersey R.F.C.. In 1999 he moved from Jersey to England and signed for Bedford Blues where he made his debut in the English Premiership on his 21st birthday against Bath Rugby.^[5] In that match he scored two tries.^[1] This was his only senior game for Bedford Blues.^[6] He was later released by Bedford Blues and attempted to find another Premiership club. In 2003, he was signed by Blaydon RFC.^[7] When he was unable to join another Premiership club, he retired from rugby.^[5]

In 2005, Cook moved to Villajoyosa, Spain and came out of retirement to sign for CR La Vila.^[5] In 2009, he was selected to play for Olympus Rugby XV Madrid in the European Challenge Cup.^[8] In 2013, Cook played for English amateur side, Tunbridge Wells RFC.^[9]

International career

In 2009, Cook was invited by the Spanish national team to join them in training camps.^[4] In 2010, Cook qualified to play for Spain under residency rules as he had lived in Spain for 5 years. He made his debut in a 2011 Rugby World Cup qualifier against Russia national rugby union team at Estadio Nacional Complutense in Madrid.^[10] This made him the second Jersey born player to win an international cap after Matt Banahan was called up to the England national rugby union team.^[11]

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Matt Cook". ESPN. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
2. ↑ "Swopped sides". The Olive Press. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
3. ↑ Hare, Kevin (7 November 2013). "Chile vs Spain – 9th Nov 2013". Rugbyredefined.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Cook poised for cap – from Spain". This Is Jersey.com. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "A CHAT WITH MATT COOK". The Leader. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
6. ↑ "Matthew Cook". Premiership Rugby. 16 May 1999. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
7. ↑ "Regional rugby review. – Free Online Library". The Free Library. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
8. ↑ "LA VILA PLAYERS MAKE OLYMPUS TEAM". The Leader. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
9. ↑ "Pair's international honours". This is Kent. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
10. ↑ "Cook earns Spanish cap". This is Jersey. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
11. ↑ "International cap for Matt Cook". Channel Online. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2014.