Sixteen year old Anton Matthews attends Ysgol Ty Ddewi as a sixth-form student and is a more than useful full back with the school’s first team as well as doubling up as a player with the youth team at St David’s RFC.
 

He really enjoys being involved with both but has a very unusual third string to his rugby bow because he has attended trials with the Danish national youth set-up and has earned selection for the squad to represent Denmark when they play their counterparts from Bulgaria in the spring.

 
Family involvement

 
But Anton is not the first member of the Matthews’ family to achieve this feat because his older brother Emil has already trodden the same path before him and whilst continuing his studies at university in Copenhagen is a member of the Danish national squad at senior level end enjoys every second of being involved there.
 
Both lads have received every encouragement from their parents David and Lise, with dad having played volleyball to a high standard until he sustained a nasty knee injury. Mum originally comes from Denmark and her family are still there, whilst Anton and Emil were born in Denmark and so are well qualified to play rugby for them at international level.
 

Loves surfing

 
Anton enjoys other sports but because of his commitment to the oval ball game has to focus much of his spare time on training for it, although he also loves surfing at Newgale, but only for fun, rather than competitively.
 

Early start

 
He started out in rugby at Roch Primary School under the guidance of Mr Carl Evans and then it was on to Ysgol Ty Ddewi and the city’s rugby club, where he went to watch big brother play and was made very welcome by coach  Carwyn Richards and the rest of the players. He tried his hand in several positions behind the scrum and although he enjoyed them it is at full back that he seems to have found his niche so that he can use his ability to tackle well in defence but also utilise his counter-attacking abilities to the full.
 

Following in Emil’s footsteps

 
Anton started his involvement with rugby in Denmark when he was over there for a family holiday and again went along to watch Emil play for his club in Copenhagen – and liked what he saw. Emil had been asked if there were any other members of his family interested in rugby and he nominated Anton – and it wasn’t long before Anton was contacted and then invited to take part in a trial.
 

Long distance trials

 
So it was back to Denmark with his parents and on three occasions since he has flown back there to take part in further trials and matches as the squad has been reduced in number to the final participants. He was understandably thrilled when he received his e-mail giving confirmation that he had been selected for the Danish national squad at under 18 level, and is really looking forward to pulling on the red shirt of Denmark when they travel to Bulgaria in an attempt at improving their World Cup ranking.
 
Rugby is a game where the social aspect is really appreciated and Anton would say that he has been made to feel very much a part of what is going on, despite being so far away. The facilities for training and for playing matches are excellent but there is inevitably a gap during part of the winter because of the snow and ice which abounds – but when it does restart he is looking forward to matches there in sevens and in the full version of the game.
 

Great help at St Davids

 
Anton still trains with St Davids RFC and works very hard there but in addition has been provided with a full training schedule from the Danish coaches, one of whom is a New Zealander. He needs to build on his strength and power, plus all other fitness levels, and to this end does extra sessions in the gym at the nearby leisure centre, as well as doing some road-running.
 
Carwyn Richards has been a great help and has already told Anton that when he does play for Denmark he wants a picture of Anton so that he can have it framed and placed on the wall at St Davids RFC, alongside their other international players. It is likely to be a similar story at Ysgol Ty Ddewi because they are equally as delighted at his unusual success there and will place a framed picture of him on a wall in the school alongside others who have brought sporting credit to the school in the past.
 

Mr Haynes is so proud

 
Chat to Anton for a short while and it is easy to see what a level-headed young man he is and his enthusiasm for rugby shines through. Head  teacher David Haynes was quick to praise his attitude to school as an example to others, including his academic work as well as his sporting achievements.
“We love to celebrate all areas of success with our students,” said Mr Haynes, “and Anton Matthews is an example of dedication for others to follow. We wish him great success and look forward to his gaining international honours with the Danish Rugby set-up.”
 
We could pay Anton Matthews no higher compliment and we look forward to hearing about his rugby exploits in Denmark when he plays for them in the spring of 2014!