Matt Corker
Encyclopedia
Matthew Corker is a professional rugby union
player for the London Wasps
. Hailing from Broadstairs
, Kent
and playing rugby from a young age, Corker is on the fringes of the London Wasps 1st XV in the position of lock forward.
His early playing career began playing for Chatham House Grammar School
, Ramsgate
where he progressed up to being captain of the 1st XV. Whilst at Chatham House, he played for local rugby side Thanet Wanderers and developed his game.
After completing his A-Levels he joined the University of Bath
studying chemistry
and while at the University of Bath he gained international recognition with the English Universities side. His debut for England came on Sunday 30 January 2005 against Australia
at Clifton RFC at Bristol
. England ran out 18-11 winners and Corker completed a full 80 minutes at second row in the victory. At university Corker also played for the 1st XV in the BUCS (British Universities Sports Association) Premier Men's South Division A.
Corker, who stands at (1.98 m) 17 st 6 lb (111 kg) played for a number of teams whilst finishing his course at university, including Havant RFC
in the Powergen London League during the 2003/2004 season.
Corker joined London Wasps in the summer of 2005 on completion of his studies and made his debut in a pre-season friendly against Exeter Chiefs
at The Causeway Stadium, Exeter
on Sunday 7 August 2005. Corker came on as a substitute and helped the London Wasps to a 70-26 victory over their opponents in front of 2,147 spectators.
Corker has played largely for the A side in the Guiniess A League South as he continues his development and knocks on the door of the 1st XV.
On Friday 1 December 2006 Corker played in Wasps 26-15 defeat by Saracens at Vicarage Road, coming on as a second half substitute for Richard Birkett
. The match, in the first round of the EDF Energy Cup marked England World Cup winning flanker Richard Hill
's return for Saracens after being dogged by injuries since the World Cup victory in 2003.
Shaun Kerr is his cousin, standing at a modest 6ft and 11 stones exactly, looks up to the rugby prodigy. His comments on his cousin include, "He is brick" and "He carries the throne of the Corker family". These claims however, seldom come accepted by his peers. Shaun is a star in his own right, starring in films such as: Violence Is The Answer and Where Eagles Fly. He has also starred on stage, appearing as 'The Bookeeper' in 'The Bookshop' sketch in his sixth year show, the mandatory stage performance of the year.
All in all, the Corker/Kerr family, boasts an eclectic mix of both brawn and brain at any given social event.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player for the London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
. Hailing from Broadstairs
Broadstairs
Broadstairs is a coastal town on the Isle of Thanet in the Thanet district of east Kent, England, about south-east of London. It is part of the civil parish of Broadstairs and St Peter's, which includes St. Peter's and had a population in 2001 of about 24,000. Situated between Margate and...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
and playing rugby from a young age, Corker is on the fringes of the London Wasps 1st XV in the position of lock forward.
His early playing career began playing for Chatham House Grammar School
Chatham House Grammar School
Chatham House Grammar School, often abbreviated to "Chatham House" is a grammar school in Ramsgate, Kent, England, founded in 1797 as a private boy's boarding school by William Humble, under the name Humbles Boys' School...
, Ramsgate
Ramsgate
Ramsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century and is a member of the ancient confederation of Cinque Ports. It has a population of around 40,000. Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline and its main...
where he progressed up to being captain of the 1st XV. Whilst at Chatham House, he played for local rugby side Thanet Wanderers and developed his game.
After completing his A-Levels he joined the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
studying chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and while at the University of Bath he gained international recognition with the English Universities side. His debut for England came on Sunday 30 January 2005 against Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at Clifton RFC at Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. England ran out 18-11 winners and Corker completed a full 80 minutes at second row in the victory. At university Corker also played for the 1st XV in the BUCS (British Universities Sports Association) Premier Men's South Division A.
Corker, who stands at (1.98 m) 17 st 6 lb (111 kg) played for a number of teams whilst finishing his course at university, including Havant RFC
Havant RFC
Havant RFC is an English rugby union club, playing in National Division Three South.Havant currently run 5 senior teams; 1st XV, 2nd XV , 3rd XV, an Academy and a Vets side ....
in the Powergen London League during the 2003/2004 season.
Corker joined London Wasps in the summer of 2005 on completion of his studies and made his debut in a pre-season friendly against Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Rugby Club are a rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon.The Exeter club was formed around 1871 and played its first match in 1873. The first team has been rebranded as the Exeter Chiefs and play in a strip of Black , White ....
at The Causeway Stadium, Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
on Sunday 7 August 2005. Corker came on as a substitute and helped the London Wasps to a 70-26 victory over their opponents in front of 2,147 spectators.
Corker has played largely for the A side in the Guiniess A League South as he continues his development and knocks on the door of the 1st XV.
On Friday 1 December 2006 Corker played in Wasps 26-15 defeat by Saracens at Vicarage Road, coming on as a second half substitute for Richard Birkett
Richard Birkett
Richard Birkett is a rugby union player for London Wasps in the Aviva Premiership. He attended Millfield School, and his position of choice is at lock.-External links:*...
. The match, in the first round of the EDF Energy Cup marked England World Cup winning flanker Richard Hill
Richard Hill
Richard Hill may refer to:* Richard Hill , Bishop of London and Archdeacon of Lewes* Richard Hill , Catholic priest and martyr* Richard Hill , British contemporary composer...
's return for Saracens after being dogged by injuries since the World Cup victory in 2003.
Shaun Kerr is his cousin, standing at a modest 6ft and 11 stones exactly, looks up to the rugby prodigy. His comments on his cousin include, "He is brick" and "He carries the throne of the Corker family". These claims however, seldom come accepted by his peers. Shaun is a star in his own right, starring in films such as: Violence Is The Answer and Where Eagles Fly. He has also starred on stage, appearing as 'The Bookeeper' in 'The Bookshop' sketch in his sixth year show, the mandatory stage performance of the year.
All in all, the Corker/Kerr family, boasts an eclectic mix of both brawn and brain at any given social event.