News

Saturday March 2nd, 2019 a saw prop Matthew Norman lead out and play a prominent role for Bridgend Athletic RFC in the 45-9 home win against Llantrisant and become the latest player to feature in 100 1^st XV games for the team. In all he has played 109 senior games. Matthew is a prop forward with a flanker’s mobility around the field. A very useful asset in a team looking to play expansive rugby. He has scored 7 senior tries – a good percentage of 7% for a prop forward.

Matthew’s association with the Athletic started in the U12’s Junior section carrying on through the age groups and captaining the Under 16’s. He also represented Wales U13-15 age groups at rugby league.

In his first season in youth he played alongside Rhys Webb and Welsh Youth Cap Jonathan Jones in the side that won the Webb Ellis Welsh Youth Cup at Aberavon RFC in 2007. Matthew then played alongside current 1^St XV squad players Nathan Holman, Aled Thomas and current club captain Ben Howe in the 2008-2009 Athletic Youth side captained by Ben Howe. This is the only Athletic Youth side to record a Welsh League and Webb Ellis Welsh Youth Cup Double, defeating Merthyr in the league and Whitland in the respective cup finals both on the Millenium stadium. Others in the squad that season included Matthew Morgan, Tom Habberfield, Lloyd Evans, Luke Morgan, Lloyd Ashley (Peers), Rhodri Apsee, Lewis Davies, Michael Hathaway, Luke Yardley, Tom Morgan and Rhys Ward Jones. What a squad the Ath could field today if they were a semi or fully professional team. During his Youth years Matthew also captained Brynteg Schools 1^ST XV.

Following that excellent youth season Matthew played two full seasons 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 making 41 1^st XV Athletic appearances before going to Premiership side Swansea. He played 37 games for Swansea scoring 2 tries. While at Swansea he represented the Welsh Crawshays XV in a win against Cambridge University.

 Despite a season of 23 games in 2013-2014 it wasn’t until last season 2017-2018 we saw Matthew fully back in Athletic colours. In between he had a short spell at Tata Steel before taking a rugby break while joining the Fire Service, who he has represented at rugby for both the Welsh and British Fire Service teams.

Unfortunately, Matthew’s season 2017-2018 when the Athletic finished 3^rd in Division 1 West Central was curtailed by suffering a badly broken ankle on March 10^{th ,}2018 at the Morganstone Brewery Field during a 40-14 win against Kenfig Hill. He eased himself back into action with 2 x 2^nd XV games this season, before returning to 1^st XV action and has played 10 1^ST XV fixtures this season helping the club rise to 3rd position in the National League Div 1 East Central with 8 wins from the last 9 league games..