Mathew Tait
England
player portrait
Full name Mathew James Murray Tait
Born February 6, 1986, Shotley Bridge
Current age 38 years 42 days
Major teams Leicester Tigers, Newcastle Falcons, Sale Sharks, England
Position Fullback
Height 6 ft 0 in
Weight 198 lb

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 2005-2010 38 19 19 25 5 0 0 0 18 19 1 48.68
Five/Six Nations 2005-2010 19 6 13 15 3 0 0 0 10 8 1 55.26
IRB Rugby World Cup 2007-2007 7 5 2 5 1 0 0 0 5 2 0 71.42

Career statistics
Test debut Wales v England at Millennium Stadium, Feb 5, 2005 match details
Last Test Australia v England at Perth, Jun 12, 2010 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list

English Premiership
Team Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All matches 2004-2018 197 167 30 125 25 0 0 0 103 87 7 54.06
Newcastle Falcons 2004-2008 56 51 5 65 13 0 0 0 21 32 3 40.17
Sale Sharks 2008-2011 36 30 6 20 4 0 0 0 16 18 2 47.22
Leicester Tigers 2011-2018 105 86 19 40 8 0 0 0 66 37 2 63.8
Profile

Tait made his Test debut against Wales in Cardiff in February 2005 on the eve of his 19th birthday when he was a surprise selection by coach Andy Robinson for the Six Nations Championship opener.

It was a match to forget for the youngster as he struggled to impose himself in defence and attack and he was the recipient of a number of big tackles from Wales centre Gavin Henson before eventually being replaced.

He was the second-youngest player to have played for England since World War II, with only his Newcastle team-mate Jonny Wilkinson having played at a younger age. However, Tait had to wait another 16 months before adding to his caps, on the 2006 tour to Australia.

He has played at centre, wing and fullback and in October 2007 he became England's youngest Rugby World Cup final player, at 21 years and 256 days, when he started against South Africa.

A replacement for the opening two matches against USA and South Africa, he made the No.13 shirt his own and almost scored the try of the tournament in the final but for a tackle from the Springboks' Victor Matfield.

He was overlooked for the opening 2008 Six Nations match against Wales, before being reinstated in the match day 22 when Mike Tindall was forced to miss the rest of the tournament after damaging his liver. He spent much of 2008 on the bench, including coming on and scoring a try against Ireland to secure a second place finish in the Championship.

Tait, who joined Sale Sharks at the start of the 2008-09 season, played fullback in England's second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch in June but did not figure in the autumn international series after suffering a hamstring injury.

He came to prominence after playing for England 16 and 18 Group, and joined Newcastle Falcons in 2003. He marked his Premiership debut against London Irish in May 2004 at the age of 18 years 86 days by scoring a try with his first touch of the ball.

He also played a key role in England's Commonwealth Games challenge in 2006 where they finished with the silver medal. He finished as the tournament's top try (nine) scorer including hat tricks against Sri Lanka and Samoa, together with two in the semi-final against Fiji.

He was also a member of the England A squad that won the 2005 Churchill Cup, appearing in the final against Argentina in Edmonton.

Leicester Tigers in July 2011 announced the capture of Tait from Sale. It was revealed that Tait had actually been at the Midlands side since February 2011 where he was undergoing rehabilitation for an injury.

Latest Articles
Bayonne sign Mathew Tait and Tom Taylor (Mar 2, 2015) Cockerill hints at Tait loan (Dec 6, 2013) Flood relishing Wilkinson face-off (Apr 3, 2013) Tait starts against Maori All Blacks (Nov 13, 2012) Cockerill tips Tait to return to his best (Sep 7, 2012) Mathew Tait news and articles (45) »
Latest Photos
Apr 12, 2014
Mathew Tait is tackled by Tom Palmer and Guy Thompson
Mathew Tait is tackled by Tom Palmer and Guy Thompson
©  Getty Images
Feb 16, 2014
Mike Tindall and Mike Wood bring down Leicester's Mathew Tait
Mike Tindall and Mike Wood bring down Leicester's Mathew Tait
©  Getty Images
May 11, 2013
Harlequins attempt to shackle Leicester's Mathew Tait
Harlequins attempt to shackle Leicester's Mathew Tait
©  Getty Images
Apr 20, 2013
Bath's Semesa Rokoduguni plucks the ball ahead of Mathew Tait
Bath's Semesa Rokoduguni plucks the ball ahead of Mathew Tait
©  Getty Images
Mathew Tait rugby photos (40) »

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