 Rea playing for Ulster, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 21 September 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Ballymena, Northern Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 114 kg (18.0 st; 251 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Ballymena Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Marcus Rea (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Matthew Rea (born 21 September 1993) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays for Ulster as a back row forward.
He was educated at Ballymena Academy, and helped the school win the 2010 Ulster Schools' Cup final.[2] He represented Ireland at under-19 level in 2011,[3] but was not offered a place in the Ulster Academy when he left school.[4] His performances for Ballymena in the All-Ireland League led to Ulster offering him a development contract ahead of the 2016–17 season.[5] He made his first professional rugby and Ulster appearance in September 2017 against the Cheetahs.[6] He made 18 appearances, including one start,[1] 111 tackles, 6 turnovers, and 24 lineouts won, in 2017–18;[7] nine appearances, and one start, in 2018–19; 19 appearances, and 14 starts, in 2019–20; 14 appearances, and 10 starts in 2020–21; and 10 appearances, including 7 starts, in 2021–22.[1]
His younger brother Marcus, also a back row forward, made his debut for Ulster in 2018.[8]