Ryan Matyas

Ryan Matyas
Date of birth (1990-12-24) 24 December 1990 (age 33)
Place of birthTucson, Arizona
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight195 lb (13 st 13 lb; 88 kg)
SchoolTucson High Magnet School
UniversityUniversity of Arizona
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Fullback
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2012
2013–2016		 Tondu RFC
Old Blue R.F.C.
Tucson Magpies
Tempe Old Devils
East Coast Bays RFC
North Harbour		 ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016
2018–		 San Diego Breakers
San Diego Legion		 10
23		 (10)
(25)
Correct as of 28 December 2020
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–
2016–2022		 USA Selects
United States		 3
13		 (15)
(30)
Correct as of 16 September 2021
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2013–2014 United States 7

Ryan Matyas (born December 24, 1990) is an American rugby union player who plays as a wing for the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR) and for the United States national rugby union team.

Career

Matyas played college rugby for the Arizona Wildcats.

Matyas played with the United States national rugby sevens team under head coach Matt Hawkins. He earned a full-time contract for the 2013–14 season, playing in six tournaments in the 2013–14 IRB Sevens World Series.[1] After the season, the U.S. brought in a new head coach, Mike Friday, and Matyas's contract with the U.S. sevens team was not renewed for the 2014–15 season.

Matyas debuted for the U.S. national rugby fifteens team on February 20, 2016, at the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship, coming on as a substitute against Chile. Matyas scored his first try for the U.S. on February 18, 2017 against Canada at the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship.[2] Matyas played for the U.S. during the summer 2017 matches against Canada, where U.S. victory qualified the team for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Matyas played for the San Diego Breakers of PRO Rugby during the competition's inaugural 2016 season, but the competition folded after one year.[3] Matyas signed with the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby for the competition's inaugural 2018 season.[4]

In September 2018, it was announced that Matyas had been selected for the USA Selects roster for the 2018 Americas Pacific Challenge.[5]

On October 23, 2021, while playing for the United States national rugby union team, Ryan Matyas became one of two American players to have scored against the All Blacks.

On May 5, 2022, Ryan Matyas announced his retirement from international rugby.[6]

References

  1. ^ "MATYAS RETURNS TO INTERNATIONAL 7S AT SILICON VALLEY", Rugby Today, Pat Clifton, November 3, 2017.
  2. ^ Ryan Matyas, ESPN Scrum. Accessed February 18, 2018.
  3. ^ Ryan Matyas, USA Rugby. Accessed February 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "MLR’s San Diego Legion Holds Combine. Ronan Nelson Reports", Rugby Wrap Up, Ronan Nelson, January 18, 2018.
  5. ^ "USA Selects named for Americas Pacific Challenge". Americas Rugby News. September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  6. ^ "USA Eagle Ryan Matyas announces retirement from international rugby". 5 May 2022.