Barrie-Jon Mather

Rugger
name = Barrie-Jon Mather


caption =
birthname = Barrie-Jon Mather
nickname = BJ
birthyear = 1973
birthmonth = 01
birthday = 15
placeofbirth = Blackpool, England
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height = 6 ft 6 in (1.96 m)
weight = 16 st 5 lb (104 kg)
ru_position = Outside Centre, Winger,
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalyears = 1999
ru_nationalteam = England
ru_nationalcaps = 1
ru_nationalpoints = (0)
ru_ntupdate = 13 Feb 2007
ru_clubyears = 1998-2000
ru_proclubs = Sale
ru_clubcaps = 17
ru_clubpoints = (20)
ru_clubupdate = 21 July 2008
ru_currentclub =
ru_province =
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ru_coachclubs =
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rl_position = Centre, Second Row,
rl_clubupdate = 21 July November 2008
rl_nationalteam = Great Britain
England
rl_nationalyears = 1994–1996
1995
rl_nationalcaps = 3
3
rl_nationalpoints =
rl_ntupdate = 13 Sept 2006
rl_amateuryears =
rl_amateurclubs =
rl_amupdate = 1 November 2006
rl_clubyears = 1992–1995
1995–1997
1997–1998
2000–2002
rl_proclubs = Wigan
Perth Western Reds
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
rl_clubcaps = 15
19
12
45
rl_clubpoints = (40)
(20)
(12)
(64)
rl_clubupdate = 21 July 2008
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Barrie-Jon Mather (born 15 January 1973) is a former Great Britain Rugby League and England Rugby Union International player. He is best known for being the first British Rugby League International Player to be capped by England Rugby Union. He is currently Assistant Academy Manager for London Irish.

Early Years

Being born on the Fylde coast in Lancashire Barrie-Jon Mather attended Arnold School in Blackpool where he quickly developed as a Rugby Union player. In 1991 he was selected in the England Schools Rugby Union Team which lost a Grand Slam against Wales. Other notable players in that side were future World Cup Winners Matt Dawson and Richard Hill.

Wigan

Despite his school boy success Barrie-Jon Mather decided that his future lay in Rugby League and eventually signed for the Wigan Warriors in 1992. He saw domestic success with Wigan and was a member of the Challenge Cup Winning side of 1994 as well as a member of the side that defeated the Brisbane Broncos in the 1994 World Club Challenge held at Brisbane's ANZ Stadium. However relations between the two turned sour when Mather claimed his contract was null and void because of the circumstances in which it was signed. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19951119/ai_n14018844 Mather Tries to Break Free] ] Mather eventually took Wigan to Court [ [http://archive.thisislancashire.co.uk/1996/1/20/860758.html Mather Takes Wigan to Court] ] when they refused to release his registration without a transfer fee following him signing a contract with Western Reds in Australia. However he was unsuccessful in his challenge. [ [http://archive.theboltonnews.co.uk/1996/1/26/860356.html Mather Loses Release Case] ]

Western Reds of Perth

Mather played a summer stint for the Western Reds in 1995 while at Wigan and fell in love with the Australian way of life. He eventually signed a three year deal with the club but was unable to complete the move as he claimed to be a free agent but Wigan retained his registration. After a bitter Court battle he was eventually transferred from Wigan to Perth for an undiclosed fee thought to be in the region of £100,000. After two mixed seasons in the NRL in which he scored 5 tries for the Club, the Western Reds suffered financial difficulties and Mather was released.

Castleford Tigers

Mather signed for Castleford Tigers in October 1997 following the financial problems of the Western Reds. He stated that Stuart Raper had spoken to him whislt out in Perth for the World Club Challenge match and convinced him Castleford was the club for him. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/letter_from_america/15939.stm Mather signs for Cas] ] He played for Castleford for just one season before making a big money switch to rugby union.

ale

Mather joined Sale Sharks in 1998 on a two year deal mainly funded by the RFU. It was the beginning of a period of recruitment from Rugby League in which the RFU sought to bring some of the best talents to play for England. Mather did not have the best of times with Sale and played for the club until his contract release in 2000. During that time Sale struggled to make an impact in the Premiership and Mather never lived up to the hype that surrounded his transfer.

Back At Castleford

Mather returned to Castleford Tigers in 2000 [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20000326/ai_n14503286 Mather rejoins Tigers] ] and in his first season back in Super League he made 16 appearances, scoring 7 tries. An injury hit 2001 restricted him to just 8 appearances in which he scored 2 tries following a full shoulder reconstruction. In 2002 Mather made 21 appearances for the Tigers and scored 7 tries for them. However towards the end of the 2002 season Mather announced that he would retire from Rugby League at the end of the season. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/2261198.stm BJ calls in Quits] ]

Return to Union

Following his retirement from Rugby League, Mather returned to Rugby Union signing a one year deal with Coventry in National One. However his season was cut short when he broke his wrist in a game against Orrell and he was released at the end of the year. [ [http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-warwickshire-sport/rugby-union/coventry-rfc/2003/01/24/barrie-jon-s-season-over-92746-12565975/ Mather Season Over] ]

Japan

In 2003 it was announced Mather had signed a 12 month deal to play for Kubota in Japan. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/2771245.stm Mather Heads for Japan] ] Following his time there Mather retired from professional rugby.

International Rugby League

Mather represented Great Britain between 1994 and 1996 making 3 appearances. He was also selected for England for the 1995 World Cup where he made 3 appearances including playing in the opening game against Australia.

International Rugby Union

Despite struggling for form with his club Sale, Mather was a suprise call into Sir Clive Woodwards England Team to face Wales in a Grand Slam decider on Sunday, 11th April 1999 at Wembley. England looked to have the game and the Grand Slam won, but a sensational individual effort from Scott Gibbs sent England crashing to a 32-31 defeat and the Championship went to Scotland. Mather did not play again for England.

Coaching

Following his retirement after a 12 months spell in Japan, Mather was appointed coach of Blackpool in the North Lancs One, following this he became Head Coach at Heaton Moor Rugby. In 2006 Mather was appointed Academy Coach at Premiership side London Irish. [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby_union/s/220/220148_mather_joins_exiles_as_academy_coach.html Mather Appointed Academy Coach] ]

References

External links

* [http://www2.hunterlink.net.au/~maajjs/res/wcup1995.htm World Cup 1995 details]