Matthew Ridge

Matthew Ridge

Full name	Matthew John Ridge
Date of birth	27 August 1968 (1968-08-27) (age 43)
Place of birth	Rotorua, New Zealand
Height	181 cm (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
Rugby league career
Position	Fullback
Professional clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1990–1996 1997–1998	Manly Sea Eagles Auckland Warriors	122 37	(1093) (238)
correct as of 31 December 2007.
National teams
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1996 - 2000	New Zealand Kiwis		(168)
correct as of 31 December 2007.
Rugby union career
Current status
Position(s)	retired
current team	retired
Playing career
Position	Fullback
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
1988 - 1990	Auckland
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1989	New Zealand	6	(4)
correct as of 31 December 2007.

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 ...'.

Background

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.

Early rugby success

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.

All Blacks

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.

Rugby league with Manly

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 Graham 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).

Rugby league in New Zealand

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 in international matches for the New Zealand national side.

Television personality

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', and 'Marc & Matthew's Rocky Road to ...'; appearances in reality television shows, and gossip columns [1].

Personal life

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, with whom he has a daughter, Jaime, and son, Boston, Nicky Watson, former underwear model and ex-wife of 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 November 2010, Matthew and Carly announced the birth of their son,^[1] London Luca Ridge, born 16 November 2010. This is the second son for Ridge who has two children from his previous marriage.

Books

In 1998 he wrote an autobiography with Angus Gillies "Take No Prisoners" (Hodder Moa Beckett, 1998)

References

1. ^ Glucina, Rachel (17 November 2010). "Matthew Ridge welcomes new son". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10688178. Retrieved 22 October 2011. 

External links

• Matthew Ridge at AllBlacks.com
• http://www.sportingcontacts.co.nz/profile.asp?pid=34
• Matthew Ridge at rugbymuseum.co.nz

Persondata
Name	Ridge, Matthew
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	27 August 1968
Place of birth	Rotorua, New Zealand
Date of death
Place of death