The US Montauban has confirmed information from the Scottish press. International player Johnny Matthews, who has spent his entire career in Glasgow, has signed a three-year contract with the French club of Tarn-et-Garonne. This is a great signing in anticipation of the return of the Sapiacains to Pro D2.
It’s a great catch for USM. The club confirmed news revealed by the Scottish media: hooker Johnny Matthews has signed with Montauban for the next three seasons.
The hooker (1.83m tall and weighing 110kg) has an impressive resume. He has played his entire professional career in Glasgow, playing 108 matches with the Warriors. He also has two caps for the Scottish national team, including one at the 2023 World Cup.
The return of powerful ball carriers?
The hooker arrives with a reputation as a “serial scorer.” Last year, he finished as the top try scorer in the United Rugby Championship (URC) with 14 tries. In total, he has scored around fifty tries for his longtime club, including five in a single match against the Dragons, a record unmatched to this day.
This suggests that Johnny Matthews is set to be a formidable weapon in Pro D2 battles, especially in the successful lineout finishes that USM was once known for.
At almost 33 years old – he turns 33 in July – Johnny Matthews will experience rugby outside of Glasgow for the first time and will discover the top level in France. “It’s never pleasant to lose a player like Johnny – he was brilliant for us – but it’s the evolution of a rugby team,” said his coach, Nigel Carolan, to our colleagues. Injured since December, Johnny Matthews returned to competition at the end of March, but he was not in the match squad for the Champions Cup quarterfinal against the Bulls last weekend. In the hooker position, USM is fully equipped with Ru-Hann Greyling, Kevin Firmin, and the young Maixent Da Costa.
