Matthew Ridge
| Matthew Ridge | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Matthew John Ridge | ||
| Date of birth | 27 August 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | Rotorua, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Weight | 79 kg (12 st 6 lb) | ||
| School | Auckland GrammarMount Albert Grammar School | ||
| Occupation(s) | Professional rugby union footballer Professional rugby league footballer Television presenter CEO |
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| Rugby league career | |||
| Position | Fullback | ||
| Professional clubs | Caps | (points) | |
| 1990–1996 1997–1998 |
 Manly Sea Eagles Auckland Warriors |
122 37 |
(1093) (238) |
| National teams | |||
| 1996 - 2000 |  New Zealand Kiwis |
(168) | |
| Rugby union career | |||
| Current status | |||
| Position(s) | retired | ||
| Current team | retired | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Fullback | ||
| Clubs | |||
| 1988 - 1990 | Auckland | ||
| National team(s) | |||
| 1989 | New Zealand |
6 | (4) |
Matthew John Ridge (born 27 August 1968) is a New Zealand television presenter as well as a former All-Black, and rugby league captain for the Manly Sea Eagles, New Zealand Warriors and Kiwis.
He is now best known for his mischievous antics alongside his partner Marc Ellis in various TV shows like 'Game of Two Halves' and 'Marc & Matthew's Rocky Road to ...'.
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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 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 Auckland side of the time which at a high point, and gained a reputation as a fearless player.
He was selected for the All Blacks in 1989 for the British tour, along with a number of other new players. The team completed the 14-match tour unbeaten. Ridge played six of the lesser matches but was never in contention for the test team, as the full-back position belonged to John Gallagher who was playing exceptionally well. Despite his second-string status, he was regarded as a player who had fully justified his selection.
The form of John Gallagher as All Black full back (named world player of the year for 1989), meant frustration for Ridge who faced the prospect of several years before he could be the test pick. When legendary rugby league coach Graeme Lowe offered the chance to switch codes, he signed for the Manly Sea Eagles. Ironically, within a week of his signing, Gallagher announced that he had signed a million-dollar contract with English club Leeds, and the All Blacks lost two world-class full-backs.
This was a time of several high-profile converts from rugby coming to the Australian league, and there was a great deal of doubt about how they would fare. Ridge did much better than most: his brash, cocky, confident character matched the ARL culture of the time, and he was able to adapt well to the game.
Ridge scored 1,093 points in 122 first grade games for Manly between 1990 & 1996 (32 tries, 477 goals, 11 Fg).
He has since captained the Kiwis. He scored 238 points in 37 first grade games for the New Zealand Warriors between 1997 & his retirement in 1999 (8 tries, 103 goals). At the time of his retirement he was the all-time top scorer for the New Zealand national side.
He is now best known for his mischievous antics alongside his partner Marc Ellis in various sports-related television shows like 'Game of Two Halves', 'Sports Café' and 'Marc & Matthew's Rocky Road to ...'; appearances in reality television shows, and gossip columns[1]. Some critics have labeled him as being immature and a poor role model.
Over the years Matthew Ridge has been linked to a string of high-profile women including his first wife Sally Ridge an interior designer and television presenter for TVNZ's Homefront, Nicky Watson super model and the former wife of NZ billionaire Eric Watson, Keita Nobilo heiress to the famed New Zealand wine label Nobilo, Rebecca Loos the former personal assistant of English football player David Beckham primarily known to the public because she allegedly had an affair with the married Beckham (the pair met while Ridge was the host of 'Treasure Island: Pirates of the Pacific' a reality TV show in which Loos was a contestant) and most recently singer Carly Binding.
In 1998 he wrote an autobiography with Angus Gillies "Take No Prisoners" (Hodder Moa Beckett, 1998)
- Matthew Ridge at AllBlacks.com
- http://www.sportingcontacts.co.nz/profile.asp?pid=34
- Matthew Ridge at rugbymuseum.co.nz
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