User:Nicknack009/Andrew Matchett

Andrew Matchett (born 25 May 1969) is an Irish former rugby union player. He played scrum-half for Portadown, Ballymena, Bedford, Belfast Harlequins, and Ulster, with whom he won the 1998-99 Heineken Cup.

Educated at Edenderry Primary School, where he was introduced to mini-rugby, then Killicomaine Junior High School and Portadown College. Played for Ulster and Ireland at schools and under-21 level.

Joined Portadown Rugby Club, where his father Marshall was president.

He was first selected for Ulster in 1990. After being an unused substitute against Yorkshire on 1 September, he made his representative debut against Spain on 4 September, while a Business Studies student at the University of Ulster.

After Portadown failed to gain promotion to the All-Ireland League, he moved to AIL club Ballymena in 1991.

In March 1997 he signed a short-term contract with Bedford in Division 2 of the Courage League. After they were promoted to Division 1 he was offered a full-time contract for the following season, but turned it down.

In the summer of 1997 he was selected for an Ireland Development tour to New Zealand and Western Samoa. He was selected a number of times on the bench for Ireland A, without being capped.

He captained Ulster against the Spanish Barbarians in San Sebastian in June 1998.

He was part of Ulster's 1998-99 Heineken Cup-winning team, while holding a day job in insurance. The final was his 60th Ulster cap.

Joined Belfast Harlequins in 1999. He retired from senior rugby in 2003, but in 2005 was recalled to the Harlequins first team due to injuries at scrum-half, and helped them to the All-Ireland League final, which they lost to Shannon.

In 2005 he organised, and appeared in, an Ulster European Cup Reunion XV to against Clogher Valley in the first match on their new pitch.

Represented the Irish Rugby Legends at the World Rugby Legends Festival in South Africa in 2006.

Total Ulster caps: 62