Phillip Matthews

For the American basketball coach, see Philip Mathews.
Phillip Matthews
8th President of National College of Ireland
Assumed office
February 2010
Preceded by Dr. Paul Mooney
Personal details
Born Phillip Michael Matthews
(1960-01-21) 21 January 1960
Gloucester, England
Spouse(s) Lisa Flynn
Alma mater Queen's University
Regent House Grammar School
Phillip Matthews
Notable relative(s) Kevin Flynn (father-in-law)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Flanker[1]
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
Queen's University
Ards RFC
Wanderers
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
Ulster
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1984–1992
1989		 Ireland
British and Irish Lions		 38[1]
1		 (4 tries)
(0)

Phillip Michael Matthews (born 21 January 1960, in Gloucester) is the current President of the National College of Ireland, in Dublin, since February 2009. He was also an Ireland rugby union international, who captained the Ireland Team in 17 of 38 appearances and was also selected for the British and Irish Lions and the captain of the Barbarians.

Senior Rugby career

Matthews was renowned as one half of an extremely effective back-row duo along with Nigel Carr. The played together at Regent House Grammar School, Queen's University, Ards RFC, Wanderers, Ulster and Ireland in the late 1970s and into the 1980s.[2]

Matthews made his senior international debut against Australia at Lansdowne Road in 1984 and was part of the Triple Crown winning side of 1985. He was on the subsequent 1985 Japan tour and represented his country in the 1987 Rugby World Cup. In 1988, in his 18th international, he took over the captaincy of the Irish side against Western Samoa and went on to lead Ireland a further 12 times in all, including in the 1991 Rugby World Cup when Ireland came extremely close to defeating eventual winners Australia in the quarter-final. He also was in the tour to Namibia. He won his 38th and final cap in 1992 against Scotland at Lansdowne Road.[2]

In his eight years playing for Ireland he scored four tries.[2] In 1989 he played for the British and Irish Lions against France in a rare "home" match in Paris for the Lions. The game formed part of the celebrations of the bi-centennial of the French Revolution.[3]

Phillip Matthews also has the distinction of appearing on at least two postage stamps. He is the eighth Ireland player to appear on a stamp. Along with Steve Smith he was depicted on two stamps in a set of nine issued by Tadjikistan for the 1991 Rugby World Cup. In his stamp he is seen tackling Michael Lynagh. Philip Matthews appears for the second time, on one of the nine rugby stamps issued by The Republic of Turkmenistan during 2000. Again he is facing Australia in the 1991 Rugby World Cup.[4]

Personal life

Phillip Matthews was married to Lisa Flynn, the daughter of former Ireland rugby international Kevin Flynn. Matthews lives in Dublin and occasionally commentates for BBC alongside Jim Neilly.[2] Matthews was appointed as the President for the National College of Ireland, in Dublin, Ireland, succeeding Dr. Paul Mooney in February 2010.[5]

References

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