Mat Protheroe

Welsh rugby union player

Rugby player

Mat Protheroe

Protheroe playing for Bristol

Birth name

Mathew John Protheroe

Date of birth

(1996-10-10) 10 October 1996 (age 27)

Place of birth

Swansea, Wales

Height

1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)

Weight

11 st 7 lb (73 kg)

School

Hartpury College

Rugby union career

Amateur team(s)
Position(s)	Fly-half, Fullback
Current team	Hawke's Bay
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
2014-2015	Hartpury RFC		()
Senior career
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
2015–2017	Gloucester	4	(0)
2017–2020	Bristol Bears	35	(60)
2020–2024	Ospreys	42	(37)
2024	Hawke's Bay	2	(10)
Correct as of 13 August 2024
International career
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
2015	England U18	1	(0)
2016-2017	England U20	5	(21)
Correct as of 24 October 2021

Mathew John Protheroe (born 10 October 1996)^[1] is a Welsh rugby union player, who currently plays as a fullback for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition.^[2]^[3]

Born in Swansea, he was educated at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, and was praised for his performances for Hartpury RFC in the 2014–15 season, scoring seven tries in 14 appearances in National League 1.^{[citation needed]}

He made his Aviva Premiership A League debut for Gloucester against the Sale Jets in January 2015 at the age of 18.^{[citation needed]}

On 27 May 2015, Protheroe signed his first professional contract with Gloucester Rugby, despite attraction from other top Premiership clubs.^[4] However, he left early by mutual agreement to join local rivals Bristol Rugby in the RFU Championship from the 2017–18 season.^[5]

On 22 February 2015, Protheroe was selected for England U18s, qualifying for England age group sides by virtue of playing for an English club, despite having no family or residential qualification for England.^[6] He produced a man-of-the-match performance in their 21–5 victory over France.^[7]

On 26 February 2020, the Ospreys announced the signing of Protheroe from Bristol for the 2020–21 season.^[8]

On 29 July 2024, Protheroe was named in the Hawke's Bay squad for the 2024 Bunnings NPC season.^[2]

References

^ "Mat Protheroe profile". ESPNscrum. ESPN. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Magpies 2024 NPC squad confirmed". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union (Press release). 29 July 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
^ @hbmagpies (31 July 2024). "Squad 2024". Retrieved 1 August 2024 – via Instagram.
^ "Mat Protheroe: Gloucester sign Hartpury College fly-half". BBC Sport. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
^ "Bristol: Chris Vui, Sam Bedlow, Mat Protheroe & Dan Thomas join relegated club". BBC Sport. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
^ Thomas, Simon (31 August 2017). "'Why I chose to play for England'... the Welsh rugby prodigy lost by Wales who could yet be poached back". Wales Online.
^ "England U18 beat France 21-5 in Doncaster". England Rugby. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
^ "Mat Protheroe: Ospreys sign versatile back from Bristol Bears". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2020.