Matthew Watkins

Matthew Watkins
Full name	Matthew Jason Watkins
Date of birth	2 September 1978
Place of birth	Newport, Wales
Date of death	7 March 2020 (aged 41)
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
School	Oakdale Comprehensive School
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	Centre
Youth career
	Newbridge
	Pontllanfraith
Senior career
Years	Team
1997–2002	Newport
2002–2003	Llanelli
2003–2008	Llanelli Scarlets
2008–2009	Gloucester
2009–2011	Newport Gwent Dragons
2009–2011	Newport
International career
Years	Team
2003–2006	Wales

Matthew Jason Watkins (2 September 1978 – 7 March 2020) was a Welsh professional rugby union player who played as a centre. He was commonly known by the name Matthew J. Watkins to avoid confusion with another Welsh rugby union player of the same name.

Born in Newport, Watkins began his rugby career with Newbridge and Pontllanfraith before going professional with Newport in 1997. After scoring 35 tries (175 points) in 121 appearances over five seasons with the club, Watkins was signed by Llanelli. He was then part of the team at the dawn of regional rugby in Wales in 2003 and was part of the original Llanelli Scarlets regional side. He was also called up to the Wales national team several times during his spell with the Scarlets, earning 18 caps between 2003 and 2006.

By 2007, he had become only the third player to reach 100 appearances for the region, following lock Adam Jones and prop John Davies.^[1] Watkins signed for Gloucester at the end of the 2007–08 season, midway through a three-year contract with the Scarlets.^[2]

On 3 August 2009, it was confirmed that Watkins would return to Wales and to the place where his professional rugby career began, signing for Newport Gwent Dragons on a two-year contract.^[3] He was released at the end of the 2010–11 season and retired soon after.

On 20 May 2013, it was announced that Watkins had developed a very rare pelvic cancer while studying for rugby coaching qualifications, but described himself as remaining "well and active".^[4] On 7 March 2020, it was announced that Watkins had died at the age of 41.^[5]

References

^ "Watkins reaches milestone". scarlets.co.uk. The Scarlets. 28 April 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
^ "Gloucester sign Scarlets' Watkins". BBC Sport. BBC. 12 May 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2008.
^ Dragons Bring Watkins Home newportgwentdragons.com
^ "Tough Challenge Ahead For Matthew". wru.co.uk. Welsh Rugby Union. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
^ "Matthew J Watkins: Ex-Wales centre dies at the age of 41". BBC Sport. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.