During his time at school Matt was in the 1st XV and was named Best Back (1999), was in the North Otago U18 Team and Hanan Shield Secondary Schools Team, made the South Island Secondary Schools Team, was named the North Otago Youth Player of the Year (1999). He made it to the final NZ U19 trial but unfortunately had to pull out due to injury. He also went to Canada with the NZ Youth Tour.
In 2000, at just 17, Matt made his first-class debut when when he lined up at Centre in North Otago's Ranfurly Shield game against Waikato. On that day he marked All Black Keith Lowen.
Since leaving school Matt played another two seasons with North Otago, then transferred to the Otago Rugby Union in 2002. He went on to play 37 games for Otago, and 36 games for Southland in the then Air New Zealand Cup, which included helping Southland with a historic Ranfurly Shield triumph in 2009. He also played 34 Super Rugby games for the Highlanders. Matt spent time coaching Southland B, and was also the Academy Manager for Rugby Southland where he helped nurture the best young talent in the province.
