Matty Russell

Scotland international rugby league footballer

Matty Russell
Personal information
Full nameMatthew Russell
Born (1993-06-06) 6 June 1993 (age 30)[1]
Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Weight14 st 0 lb (89 kg)[1]
Playing information
PositionFullback, Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2011–12 Wigan Warriors 2 3 0 0 12
2012(loan) → Hull F.C. 6 0 0 0 0
2013 Gold Coast Titans 0 0 0 0 0
2014–18 Warrington Wolves 96 83 0 0 120
2016(loan) → Swinton Lions 4 1 0 1 5
2018–20 Toronto Wolfpack 40 38 0 0 152
2021 Leigh Centurions 13 4 0 0 16
2022 Toulouse Olympique 21 13 0 0 52
2023– Warrington Wolves 15 3 0 0 12
2024(loan) → Hull F.C. 2 1 0 0 4
Total 199 146 0 1 373
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013– Scotland 13 5 0 0 20
Source: [2][3]
As of 11 March 2024

Matthew Russell (born 6 June 1993) is a Scottish professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback or winger for Warrington Wolves in the Betfred Super League and Scotland at international level.

He previously played for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League, and on loan from Wigan at Hull F.C. in the top flight. Russell spent a season with the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL. He later played for the Warrington Wolves in the Super League, and spent time on loan from Warrington at the Swinton Lions in the Championship. Russell also played for the Toronto Wolfpack in the Betfred Championship and the top flight.[2][3]

Background

Russell was born in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland.

Career

Wigan Warriors

Russell's Super League career started with Wigan, playing some games on loan to Hull FC.

Gold Coast Titans

He then agreed a two-year deal with Australian NRL team, the Gold Coast Titans, but returned to England a season later.

Warrington Wolves

On 16 April 2014, the entertaining, fast running Scottish fullback, signed a new three-year deal that would keep him at Warrington until November 2017.[4]

He played in the 2016 Challenge Cup Final defeat by Hull F.C. at Wembley Stadium.[5][6]

He played in the 2016 Super League Grand Final defeat by Wigan at Old Trafford.[7]

Toronto Wolfpack

He later signed a two-year deal with Championship club Toronto Wolfpack.[8]

Leigh Centurions

On 9 November 2020 it was announced that Russell would join Leigh for the 2021 season.[9]

Toulouse Olympique

On 6 November 2021, it was reported that he had signed for Toulouse Olympique in the Super League[10] In round 1 of the 2022 Super League season, Russell scored Toulouse Olympique's first ever try in the competition, however it was not enough as they were defeated 42-14 by Huddersfield.[11]

Warrington Wolves (rejoin)

After Toulouse were relegated from the Super League, Russell signed a contract to join Warrington. Russell played 14 games for Warrington in the 2023 Super League season as Warrington finished sixth on the table and qualified for the playoffs. He played in the clubs elimination playoff loss against St Helens.[12]

Hull F.C. (loan)

On 27 Feb 2024 it was reported that he had signed for Hull F.C. in the Super League on loan[13]

International career

Russell was named in the Scotland squad for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.[14][15] He was one of the star players in the tournament.

In 2016, Russell was part of Scotland's Four Nations campaign, where he scored a try in their second game against England. He also played in the historic game against New Zealand, where Scotland's 18-18 draw saw them become the first 'fourth nation' to earn a point since the Four Nations series inaugurated in 2009.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Matthew Russell". warringtonwolves.com. Warrington Wolves. Archived from the original on 30 November 1994. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Matty Russell seals new Wolves deal". superleague.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 November 1994. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Hull FC's Jamie Shaul's late try takes Challenge Cup away from Warrington". Guardian. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Challenge Cup final: Hull FC 12-10 Warrington Wolves". BBC. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Warrington 6-12 Wigan: Super League Grand Final – as it happened!". Guardian. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Wigan reserve fullback Matty Russell has agreed a two year deal with NRL outfit Gold Coast Titans". skysports.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Matty Russell joins Leigh Centurions". www.rugby-league.com. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Matty Russell makes Super League move". Love Rugby League. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Toulouse Olympique won't be easy pickings for any one in Super League, says Huddersfield Giants' Jake Wardle". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk.
  12. ^ "Highs and lows from Warrington Wolves' 2023 season". www.warringtonguardian.co.uk. 3 October 2023.
  13. ^ Drew Darbyshire (27 February 2024). "Warrington Wolves winger Matty Russell joins Super League rivals on loan". Love Rugby League.
  14. ^ "McCormack finalises Scotland Squad". rlwc2013.com. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ "Uncapped Russell named in Scotland's World Cup squad". heraldscotland.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  16. ^ "Scotland make history in Four Nations draw with holders New Zealand". theguardian.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matty Russell.
  • Toronto Wolfpack profile
  • (archived by web.archive.org) Profile at warringtonwolves.com
  • Statistics at rugby-league.com
  • (archived by web.archive.org) Statistics at rugby-league.com
  • (archived by web.archive.org) Statistics at rlwc2017.com
  • Scotland profile
  • Scotland RL profile
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Warrington Wolves – current squad
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Toronto Wolfpack - 2019 Million Pound Game winners
  • Coach: Brian McDermott
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Scotland squad – 2013 Rugby League World Cup
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Scotland squad – 2016 Rugby League Four Nations
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Scotland squad – 2017 Rugby League World Cup
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Scotland squad – 2021 Rugby League World Cup