// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Matty Rea say to the tea? "Rea-dy for a brew?
 Rea playing for Ulster, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 21 September 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 114 kg (18.0 st; 251 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Ballymena Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative | Marcus Rea (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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] He left Ulster at the end of the 2024-25 season.[9]
His younger brother Marcus, also a back row forward, made his debut for Ulster in 2018.[10]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Matty Rea at ItsRugby.fr (in French)
- ↑ "Ballymena Academy 10-7 BRA", BBC Sport, 17 March 2010
- ↑ "Ulster U19 teams named for weekend fixtures", Ulster Rugby, 22 September 2011
- ↑ "Marcus Rea discusses scoring on Ulster debut alongside brother Matthew". Belfast Telegraph. 29 April 2019.
- ↑ Adam McKendry, "Ulster Rugby squad 2016/17", Belfast Live, 24 November 2016
- ↑ "Rea keen to make most of first team opportunity", 18 September 2017
- ↑ Matty Rea Player Profile, UlsterRugby.com, archived on 14 August 2018
- ↑ Adam McKendry, "Ulster confirm seven contract extensions as province finalise squad for next season", Belfast Telegraph, 13 June 2024
- ↑ "Eight players set to leave Ulster at the end of the season", Belfast Telegraph, 22 April 2025
- ↑ "Marcus Rea scores game-winning try on debut as Ulster win dead rubber over Leinster". Belfast Telegraph. 27 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
External links
[edit]- Ulster Rugby profile
- United Rugby Championship profile
- Matty Rea at European Professional Club Rugby
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