Matthew John Ridge is a New Zealand television presenter as well as a former All Black, and rugby league

Rugby league

Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

 captain for the Manly Sea Eagles, New Zealand Warriors

New Zealand Warriors

The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...

 and Kiwis

New Zealand national rugby league team

The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...

.

He is now best known for his mischievous antics alongside his partner Marc Ellis

Marc Ellis (rugby)

Marc Christopher Gwynne Ellis is a New Zealand businessman and television presenter, and former rugby league and rugby union player. A graduate of the University of Otago, his primary business interests are in Charlie's, a juice company...

 in various TV shows like 'Game of Two Halves' and 'Marc & Matthew's Rocky Road to ...'.
Born Matthew John Ridge in Rotorua on 27 August 1968, he at first played soccer in under-13 grades, but by the time he finished his schooling at Auckland Grammar (having also done four years at Mt Albert Grammar), he was a regular selection in Auckland age-group rugby union

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...

 teams, and had been a member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools side in 1986.
In 1988, a few weeks before his 19th birthday, he made his first-class debut for the New Zealand Colts and picked up one late-season appearance for Auckland, where he made a good impression in a pressure match with Canterbury.

He became a key player in the powerful Auckland side of the time and gained a reputation as a fearless player.
He was selected for the All Blacks

All Blacks

The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....

 in 1989 for the British tour, along with a number of other new players.