Matthew "Matt" James Cook (born 17 May 1978) is a Jersey-born Spanish international rugby union player. He plays as a

Flanker Flanker may refer to: * Flanker (perfume), a newly created perfume sharing attributes of an existing one * Flanker (rugby union), a position in rugby union (not found in rugby league) * ''Su-27 Flanker'' (video game), a 1996 computer game modelin ...

or a Number 8. Cook currently plays for Tunbridge Wells RFC and the

Spain national rugby union team The Spain national rugby union team (Spanish: '' Selección de rugby de España''), nicknamed Los Leones (''The Lions''), represents Spain in men's international rugby union competitions. The team is administered by the Spanish Rugby Federation ...

Personal life

Born in Saint Helier, Cook was educated at De La Salle College.

Career

Cook started to play rugby at the age of 6 for Jersey. In 1998 he moved from Jersey to England and signed for

Bedford Blues Bedford Blues are a rugby union club in the town of Bedford, England, currently playing in The RFU Championship. Bedford is one of the few towns in England where the rugby club is better supported than the football team. The Blues are a semi-pro ...

where he made his debut in the English Premiership on his 21st birthday against Richmond RFC. In that match he scored two tries. This was his only senior game for Bedford Blues. He was later released by Bedford Blues and attempted to find another Premiership club. In 2003, he was signed by

Blaydon RFC Blaydon RFC is an English semi-professional rugby union team. The first team currently play in the fourth tier of the English rugby union system ( National League 2 North), having been promoted as champions from North Premier at the end of ...

. When he was unable to join another Premiership club, he retired from rugby. In 2005, Cook moved to Villajoyosa, Spain and came out of retirement to sign for CR La Vila. In 2009, he was selected to play for

Olympus Rugby XV Madrid Olympus Rugby XV Madrid is a rugby union team that competes in the European Challenge Cup. The side was formed to play in the 2009–10 European Challenge Cup, consisting of footballers playing in the domestic Spanish leagues. After an absence of ...

in the

European Challenge Cup The EPCR Challenge Cup is an annual rugby union competition organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). It is the second-tier competition for clubs based in European leagues behind the European Rugby Champions Cup. From its inception i ...

. In 2013, Cook played for English amateur side, Tunbridge Wells RFC.

International career

In 2009, Cook was invited by the Spanish national team to join them in training camps. In 2010, Cook qualified to play for Spain under residency rules as he had lived in Spain for 5 years. He made his debut in a 2011 Rugby World Cup qualifier against Russia national rugby union team at

Estadio Nacional Complutense The Estadio Nacional Complutense (or Complutense National Stadium in English), is a rugby union stadium in the Spanish capital Madrid and located on the main campus of the Complutense University of Madrid. The stadium is commonly used by the ...

in Madrid. This made him the second Jersey born player to win an international cap after Matt Banahan was called up to the

England national rugby union team The England national rugby union team represents England in men's international rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. England have won the championship on 29 occasion ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Matthew Jersey rugby union players Living people Rugby union number eights Rugby union flankers Spanish rugby union players Spain international rugby union players 1978 births Bedford Blues players People educated at De La Salle College, Jersey Alumni of the University of Northampton