MATT SILVA’S RUGBY LIFE
Born in March 1970 in Tremorfa, Cardiff;
■ Educated at St Albans Primary School and St Illtyds Comprehensive;
Played junior rugby for St Albans RFC, starting out at No 8, before switching to full-back. Spent final year of youth with Llandaff RFC;
Capped by Wales Youth in 1988, lining up against France at the Talbot Athletic Ground in Aberavon, with Emile N’tamack his opposite number and Scott Gibbs in the Welsh centre;
Began his senior career with Newport, before linking up with Pontypool;
In October 1989, at the age of 18, he took on the star-studded All Blacks at Pooler Park, playing at fly-half for the first time;
Went on to rack up the points at club level with Pontypool and was capped by Wales at U19, U21 and B level;
Moved north to rugby league in 1991, joining Halifax. Won a solitary cap for Wales in a 68-0 victory over Papua New Guinea at the Vetch Field, Swansea that year;
In 1993, along with Stuart Evans, he successfully challenged the WRU ruling which prevented him from playing union again. Became the first player to return to the 15-man game from league when he lined up for Newbridge against Abertillery;
Joined West Hartlepool in 1996, playing under Mark Ring and Kevin Moseley in the Premiership. Moved to Cardiff the following year and also had a spell with Treorchy;
■ Became player-coach at Rumney in 2000 and then took on the same role at Llantwit Major, playing until he was 40. His final career goal-kicking points tally was 2,674;
Appointed a WRU development officer in 2002 and coached the Cardiff Blues Academy age grade sides and Cardiff RFC. Spent 13 years with the region, helping to bring through the likes of Jamie Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny and Bradley Davies;
Joined the Ospreys in 2015 as coach education and development officer. Was appointed coach of Bridgend in 2016;
Kept Bridgend in the Premiership in 2019, but then lost his job with them, before replacing the departing Mark Jones as head coach of RGC.