PHOTOS:
Anton Matthews in international action for Denmark
Anton Matthews

 

 
St Davids Rugby Club can now boast that it has a Danish international after talented teenager Anton Matthews recently played twice for the country of his birth in an international tournament in Hungary.
 
Anton, who has played rugby for Ysgol Dewi Sant and St Davids Youth, travelled to Esztergom in Hungary in April to play for the Danish U18 national rugby team at this year’s European championships. Anton was born in Denmark, which makes him eligible to play for the country, before moving to Pembrokeshire at the age of 5.
 
He has shown real commitment to playing for Denmark and has travelled there on several occasions to attend trials and training camps.
 
The Danish team secured a bronze medal in the C group. They met a strong Latvian team in their first match, and despite continued efforts from the Danish players, the Latvians were much bigger and in the final ten minutes took over the game. Latvia went on to take the gold after defeating Hungary in the finals.
 
The Danish head coach Steve Atkins, a New Zealander who used to play high level rugby himself, and his assistant coach Nich Gulris, were able to work with the lads and rallied the Danish team to a victory in the bronze-medal match against Bulgaria. An acceptable result, even if they had been hoping to move up into the B group. Most of the players were fairly young and will be in the same age group at next year’s tournament where they’ll be hoping for a better seeding.
 
Anton had full playing time in both matches and is hoping to continue playing for the Danish team when he can, in between his A-level studies. His coach Nich said: “Anton had a great tournament with a professional attitude both on and off the pitch, and we are looking forward to another great year with him on the U18 national team.” Anton would like to say a huge thanks to a local business, The Ark health food shop in Haverfordwest, for sponsoring his trip!