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Matt Banahan

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Matt Banahan
Birth nameMatthew Andrew Banahan
Date of birth (1986-12-30) 30 December 1986 (age 37)
Place of birthSt Helier, Jersey
Height2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight110 kg (17 st 5 lb; 243 lb) [1]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing/Centre/Fullback
Youth career
Jersey Reds
London Irish
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006–2018 Bath 264 (504)
2018–2021 Gloucester 44 (55)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2011 England Saxons 4 (25)
2009–2011 England 16 (20)
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2007–2008 England
Coaching career
Years Team
2023– Scotland women (Attack coach)

Matthew Andrew Banahan (born 30 December 1986) is a former rugby union player who played for Bath and Gloucester in Premiership Rugby, between 2006 and 2021. Born in Jersey, he played 20 times for England but capped 16 times between 2009 and 2011. His main position was wing, however he could also operate as an inside or outside centre.

Early life

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Banahan grew up playing field hockey, earning selection to the Jersey and West of England junior representative sides before he decided his hockey career was stalled and switching to rugby union.[2] Banahan went to La Moye school, Les Quennevais School and Highlands College.

Club career

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Banahan moved to Bath in the summer of 2006, after previously appearing for the London Irish Academy and was brought to the Recreation Ground as a lock.[3] He had also been involved with the RFU's Junior National Academy set-up and, England's sevens set up.

He switched to wing where his powerful combination of size, strength and speed made him a potent weapon in the Bath United and Development sides, for whom he scored ten tries in fourteen games last season.

Quickly promoted to the first team from the academy set up, Banahan made 26 first grade appearances and finished the 2007/08 season as the club's top try scorer (16) and the Guinness Premiership regular season's second highest (10) behind Leicester's Tom Varndell (13).

On 10 January 2018, it was announced by Bath that Banahan will be leaving after 12-year association to West Country rivals, Gloucester from the 2018–19 season.[4]

On 29 November 2020, Banahan announced his retirement from all forms of rugby competition at the end of the 2020–21 season.[5]

International career

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Banahan was selected for the "wider" England Sevens squad in the 2007–08 IRB Sevens World Series, which refers to a pool of players who supplement the 11 core squad members. As a member of the wider squad, he was eligible for selection for up to four of the eight events in the tournament.[2] He was also selected for the England Saxons squad to play in the 2008 Churchill Cup.[6] He celebrated his Saxons debut by scoring a hat trick in a 64–10 victory over the USA in the opening round. He then scored two tries against Ireland A and one in the final against Scotland A.

Banahan played for England on Saturday 30 May 2009 against the Barbarians at Twickenham in an uncapped game where he scored a try. He was called up to the England squad for their summer tour replacing David Strettle who was ruled out through injury. He made his full England debut on 6 June 2009 in a comfortable win over Argentina at Old Trafford where he also scored a try and was named 'Man of the Match'. He retained his place for England's 2009 Autumn series against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand, and scored his third international try in the win against Argentina.

Banahan made his first start in the centre for England during their 2010 Autumn series, playing at outside centre in the game versus Samoa on 20 November 2010. He scored a try when England were trailing 6–8, and set up England's second through an intercepted pass.[7] On the back of this performance, he was named on the bench for England's final game of 2010 against South Africa.[8]

Banahan last played for England in October 2011.[9]

International tries

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[10]

Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
1  Argentina Manchester, England Old Trafford 2009 Summer Internationals 6 June 2009 Win 37 – 15
2  Argentina Salta, Argentina Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena 2009 Summer Internationals 13 June 2009 Loss 22 – 24
3  Argentina London, England Twickenham Stadium 2009 Autumn Internationals 14 November 2009 Win 16 – 9
4  Samoa London, England Twickenham Stadium 2010 Autumn Internationals 20 November 2010 Win 26 – 13

Post rugby career

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On 28 January 2021, Banahan will return to Bath to become the Glasshouse Academy manager with the Bath Recreation team and a Sports Ambassador from July 2021.[11]

Coaching career

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On 21 August 2023, Banahan was announced as attack coach for the Scotland national women's rugby union team.[12][13]

References

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  1. ^ "RFU Official Site of the RFU, Governing Body of Rugby Union in England". web page. Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Banahan selected for England squad". BBC Jersey. 5 September 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
  3. ^ "Travagli and Banahan join Bath". Bath Rugby. 12 June 2006. Archived from the original on 27 November 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
  4. ^ "Matt Banahan will leave Bath Rugby for Gloucester Rugby at the end of the season". bath Chronicle. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Matt Banahan announces retirement from rugby". Rugby Pass. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  6. ^ "England Squad for 2008 Churchill Cup". England Rugby. Archived from the original on 16 July 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  7. ^ Henson, Mike (20 November 2010). "England 26–13 Samoa". BBC News.
  8. ^ "England recall quartet to face SA". BBC News. 25 November 2010.
  9. ^ "Matt Banahan". 7 July 2019. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Matthew Andrew Banahan". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Bath Rugby legend Matt Banahan confirms his plans after rugby". Somerset Live. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Ex-England wing Banahan is Scotland women's attack coach". BBC Sport. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  13. ^ Cameron, Ian (21 August 2023). "Matt Banahan takes major step in international coaching career". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
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