Matt Heaton Explained

Matt Heaton
Fullname:Matthew Josef Heaton
Birth Date:9 February 1993
Birth Place:Godmanchester, Quebec
Height:6feet
Weight:220lb
Position:Flanker
Currentclub:Rugby ATL
Amatyears1:2015-2017
2017-2019
Amatteam1:Otley
Darlington Mowden Park
Ru Province1:The Rock
Ru Provinceyears1:2016-
Years1:2020-
Clubs1:Rugby ATL
Apps1:7
Points1:5
Repyears1:2016-
Repteam1:Canada
Repcaps1:28
Reppoints1:5
Clubupdate:12 April 2021
Repupdate:12 April 2021

Matt Heaton (born 9 February 1993) is a Canadian rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Rugby ATL in Major League Rugby (MLR). He also represents Canada playing for the Canadian national rugby union team internationally.[1]

He was included in the Canadian squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup which was held in Japan for the first time and which was his first World Cup appearance.[2] [3]

Heaton is a 2 time recipient of the Rugby Canada 15's Player of the year award. (2017 & 2019)

Early life

Heaton was born in Godmanchester, Quebec. He first played rugby at age 14 and represented his high school Chateauguay Valley Regional. He later attended John Abbot College. Heaton’s first club was Ormstown Saracens RFC.

Career

He first played representative rugby for Quebec under 17s and under 18s before playing for Canada Under 20s. He represented Newfoundland at the Canadian Rugby Championships in 2014 and 2015

He moved to the UK and completed 4 seasons in the amateur leagues with Otley and Darlington Mowden.

He made his international debut for Canada against Japan on 11 June 2016.[4] He made his first World Cup match appearance against Italy on 26 September 2019, as a substitute, in Canada's opening match of the tournament in Pool B.[5] Heaton put in a 14 tackle performance on 2 October 2019, as a starter, vs New Zealand in Canada's second RWC pool match. Heaton scored his first international try on 8 October 2019, as a starter, vs South Africa in Canada's third RWC pool match.

In 2020 Heaton moved to US Major League Rugby expansion team Rugby ATL and earned 3 appearances before the season was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was named team co-captain for the 2021 season.[6]

Club statistics

Season Team Games Starts Sub Tries Cons Pens Drops Points Yel Red
3 3 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
MLR 2021Rugby ATL4400000000
Total 7 7 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 0

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Matt Heaton. ESPN scrum. 26 September 2019.
  2. Web site: Rugby Canada announces 2019 Rugby World Cup Team; Final warm-up test match against USA set to take place September 7th at BC Place Stadium. 3 September 2019. Rugby Canada. 26 September 2019.
  3. Web site: ROSTER UPDATE: RUGBY WORLD CUP 2019. 10 September 2019. Rugby Canada. 26 September 2019.
  4. Web site: Canada v Japan. ESPN scrum. 26 September 2019.
  5. Web site: 2019-09-26 . Italy thrash Canada to collect second bonus-point win . 2023-06-23 . The Independent . en.
  6. Web site: Matt Heaton Rugby ATL - Major League Rugby. 2021-04-12. en-US.