Matt Scott (rugby union) explained

Matt Scott
Birth Name:Matthew Clive McCrimmon Scott
Birth Date:1990 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Dunfermline, Scotland
Height:185cm (73inches)
Weight:103kg (227lb)
Relatives:Fergus Scott (brother)
School:Currie High School
University:Edinburgh University
Amatyears1:2010–2011
Youthclubs1:Currie RFC
Repyears1:2010
Repteam1:Scotland U20
Repcaps1:9
Reppoints1:0
Repyears2:2011
Repteam2:Scotland Club XV
Repyears3:2012
Repteam3:Scotland A
Repyears4:2012–2021
Repcaps4:40
Reppoints4:25
Repupdate:19 June 2017
Years1:2011–2016
Clubs1:Edinburgh
Apps1:70
Points1:70
Years2:2016–2018
Clubs2:Gloucester
Apps2:34
Points2:85
Years3:2018–2020
Clubs3:Edinburgh
Apps3:20
Points3:20
Years4:2020–2024
Clubs4:Leicester Tigers
Apps4:80
Points4:80
Years5:2024–
Clubs5:Edinburgh
Apps5:0
Points5:0
Clubupdate:18 May 2024

Matthew Scott (born 30 September 1990)[1] is a Scottish rugby union player with 40 caps for Scotland who most recently played for Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship. His regular playing position is Centre.

Early life

Scott was born in Dunfermline, Scotland. He was deputy head boy at Currie High School. In 2008 he embarked on full-time study at the University of Edinburgh while developing as a rugby player.[2] He graduated with a law degree in 2013.[3]

Scott had impressed in the 2010–11 season as a Scotland age-grade internationalist and his part in Currie's recent rise to prominence, domestically in Premier 1 and the British and Irish Cup. Before signing, Scott represented Scotland at under-19 and under-20 in 2009 and 2010 respectively.[4]

Scott played for Edinburgh's district interstate u-17 and u-18 teams.

Club career

In April 2011 Scott joined Edinburgh as an elite development player.[5]

Scott made his competitive début on 2 September 2011 against Cardiff Blues.[6] His first try came against 2010–11 Celtic League winners Munster after he dummied and cut inside, before palming off two Munster defenders to score under the posts.

Since then he has become a familiar feature for Edinburgh, combining his upbringing as a stand-off with his strength in the tackle to great effect as a play-making centre with an eye for the try line. Having become a regular feature in the Edinburgh Rugby midfield, Scott signed a contract extension in October 2012 that will keep him at the club until 2015.

By the middle of January 2016 he had played 70 times for Edinburgh and had scored 14 tries.[7] On 16 January 2016, an announcement that Scott had signed for Aviva Premiership side Gloucester, to join for the start of the 2016–17 season.[8] His last match for Edinburgh was against the Cardiff Blues on 7 May 2016.[9]

On 21 February 2018, Scott re-signed with his hometown club Edinburgh back in the Pro14, on a two-year deal ahead of the 2018–19 season .[10]

On 29 April 2020 it was confirmed Scott will join English side Leicester Tigers from the 2020–21 season.[11] Scott played as a replacement in the 2022 Premiership Rugby final as Tigers beat Saracens 15–12.[12] On 13 January 2023, Scott scored two tries as Leicester beat ASM Clermont Auvergne 44–29 away to qualify for the 2022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup round-of-16.[13]

On 12 April 2024 Leicester announced that Scott would be leaving the club at the end of the season.[14]

On 2 August 2024, it was confirmed that Scott returns to his old club Edinburgh for a third spell in his career for the 2024-25 season.[15]

International career

Before going pro, Scott represented Scotland at under-19 and under-20 in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Scott made his age-grade international debut in the 55–13 success against Italy at Lasswade, Edinburgh, in March 2009, followed by the Dourdan match against France a month later. In 2010 he was recalled to the representative set-up for Scotland's under-20 6 Nations, playing in all but one match, featuring as a replacement in each of the four 6NC matches before playing in a further five Junior world Championship matches in Argentina.

Scott made a try-scoring debut for Scotland A in February 2012 in the 35–0 win over England Saxons at Netherdale.[16] The following month he gained his first international cap, coming on as a replacement in the RBS Six Nations match versus Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. His first start for Scotland came in June, on tour against Australia.[17] In the 2013 Six Nations Championship he started at inside centre in all of Scotland's matches. He appeared for Scotland in a mini-tournament in South Africa in the same year. He went on Scotland's tour to Japan in 2016.[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Edinburgh Rugby (Matt Scott) – Edinburgh Rugby. edinburghrugby.org.
  2. News: Heavy caseload for Matt Scott as he mixes rugby and the law . David . Ferguson . The Scotsman . 17 November 2011 . 9 January 2022.
  3. Interview: Matt Scott . Scotcampus . 27 September 2013 . 30 December 2016.
  4. News: Matt Scott: Gloucester arrival was like going back to school . Gary . Heatly . Edinburgh Evening News . 24 August 2016 . 9 January 2022.
  5. News: Currie fly-half Matt Scott joins elite development programme . . 21 April 2011 . 27 December 2016.
  6. Web site: News. edinburghrugby.org.
  7. News: Matt Scott: Gloucester to sign Edinburgh centre . . 16 January 2016 . 27 December 2016.
  8. News: Edinburgh and Scotland centre Matt Scott signs for Gloucester. Sky Sports. 16 January 2016. 17 January 2016.
  9. News: Scotland centre Matt Scott reveals why he's leaving Edinburgh for Gloucester at the end of the season . Lewis . Stuart . The Herald . 27 April 2016 . 30 December 2016.
  10. News: Matt Scott rejoins Edinburgh from Gloucester. Sky Sports. 21 February 2018. 23 February 2018.
  11. Web site: Tigers add international ahead of next season. Leicester Tigers. Leicester Football Club. 29 April 2020.
  12. News: Premiership final: Leicester Tigers 15-12 Saracens - Freddie Burns drop-goal clinches title. BBC Sport. 18 June 2022. 20 June 2022.
  13. News: Wigglesworth delight as Leicester trounce Clermont for record win. The Daily Telegraph. 13 January 2023. 15 January 2023. subscription. Charles. Richardson.
  14. News: Leicester Tigers: Guy Porter and Matt Scott among five to be released . BBC Sport . 12 April 2024 . 12 April 2024.
  15. News: Matt Scott set for third stint at Edinburgh after agreeing capital club return . Scotland Rugby News . 2 August 2024. 2 August 2024.
  16. News: Scotland A thrash England Saxons at Galashiels . . 2 February 2012.
  17. News: Video: father of Scottish rugby star Matt Scott on flying out to watch his son help beat Australia on his debut . The Scotsman . 7 June 2012 . 27 December 2016.