{{Short description|NZ international rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Alby Mathewson | image = | caption = | birth_name = Albert Samuel Mathewson | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|12|13|df=yes}} | birth_place = Hastings, New Zealand | height = {{height|m=1.73|precision=0}} | weight = {{convert|93|kg|st lbs|abbr=on}} | position = Scrum-half | years1 = 2006–2010 | clubs1 = Wellington | years2 = 2007–2009 | clubs2 = Hurricanes | years3 = 2010–2012 | clubs3 = Blues | years4 = 2011–2012 | clubs4 = Auckland | years5 = 2013–2016 | clubs5 = Force | years6 = 2013 | clubs6 = Hawke's Bay | years7 = 2016 | clubs7 = Canterbury | years8 = 2017 | clubs8 = Bristol | years9 = 2017 | clubs9 = King Country | years10 = 2017–2018 | clubs10 = Toulon | years11 = 2018–2019 | clubs11 = Munster | years12 = 2020–2021 | clubs12 = Ulster | years13 = 2022 | clubs13 = Reds | apps1 = 56 | points1 = 65 | apps2 = 36 | points2 = 20 | apps3 = 47 | points3 = 65 | apps4 = 20 | points4 = 15 | apps5 = 51 | points5 = 26 | apps6 = 12 | points6 = 10 | apps7 = 3 | points7 = 0 | apps8 = 10 | points8 = 0 | apps9 = 6 | points9 = 5 | apps10 = 19 | points10 = 20 | apps11 = 27 | points11 = 30 | apps12 = 18 | points12 = 10 | apps13 = 0 | points13 = 0 | ru_clubupdate = 11 March 2022 | repyears1 = 2006 | repteam1 = New Zealand U21 | repyears2 = 2008–2010 | repteam2 = New Zealand | repyears3 = 2009 | repteam3 = Junior All Blacks | repcaps1 = 5 | reppoints1 = 5 | repcaps2 = 5 | reppoints2 = 0 | repcaps3 = 2 | reppoints3 = 5 | ru_ntupdate = 1 July 2018 | spouse = | children = | relatives = | school = Hastings Boys' High School | university = Victoria University of Wellington }}
'''Albert Samuel Mathewson''' (born 13 December 1985) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half.
==Early life and education== Mathewson was born in Hastings, New Zealand. He first attended Havelock North High School but switched to Hastings Boys' High School to improve his game.<ref>{{Cite news|title = All Blacks: Diligence pays off for Mathewson|url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10542414|newspaper = New Zealand Herald|date = 2008-11-11|access-date = 2015-11-28|issn = 1170-0777|language = en-NZ}}</ref> He studied at Victoria University after finishing his schooling.{{citation needed|date= December 2012}}
==Rugby== Mathewson made his Wellington debut in 2006 and Hurricanes debut in 2007, before shifting to the Blues in 2010. Mathewson made his international debut for New Zealand in 2010. In 2012, Mathewson signed a two-year contract with the Western Force in Australia,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-sport/7587076/May-the-Force-be-with-you-Alby-Mathewson |title=May the Force be with you Alby Mathewson |first=Tony |last=Robson |work=Auckland Now |publisher=Fairfax |date=31 August 2012 |access-date=8 September 2012}}</ref> which he extended until 2016 two years later.<ref name="Mathewson committed to the Force until 2016">{{cite press release|url=http://www.rugbywa.com.au/NewsEvents/NewsArticles/tabid/905/ArticleID/11589/Mathewson-committed-to-the-Force-until-2016.aspx |title=Mathewson committed to the Force until 2016 |publisher=Western Force |date=23 May 2014 |access-date=23 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523225516/http://www.rugbywa.com.au/NewsEvents/NewsArticles/tabid/905/ArticleID/11589/Mathewson-committed-to-the-Force-until-2016.aspx |archive-date=23 May 2014 }}</ref>
Mathewson joined Irish side Munster, who play in the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup and have a history of playing New Zealand, on a four-month short-term contract in August 2018. Mathewson, who played against Munster for Toulon during the 2017–18 season and also played for New Zealand against Munster in November 2008, was signed as injury-cover for Ireland and British and Irish Lions international Conor Murray, who had been ruled out for a short period with a neck injury.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/2018/08/27/munster-sign-alby-mathewson/|title=Munster Sign Alby Mathewson|date=27 August 2018|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref>
Mathewson made his debut for Munster on 29 September 2018, starting their 2018–19 Pro14 fixture against provincial rivals Ulster in Thomond Park, which Munster won 64–7.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/report/report-record-win-for-munster-over-ulster/|title=Report {{!}} Record PRO14 Win For Munster Over Ulster|date=29 September 2018|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=30 September 2018}}</ref> He scored his first try for Munster in the provinces 30–22 defeat at the hands of Leinster on 6 October 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-edged-out-at-aviva/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Edged Out At Aviva|date=6 October 2018|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=7 October 2018}}</ref> He signed a three-month contract extension with Munster in November 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/2018/11/16/squad-update-pre-zebre-2/|title=Squad Update {{!}} Pre Zebre|date=16 November 2018|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=17 November 2018}}</ref> Mathewson's contract with Munster was again extended in February 2019, this time until the end of the 2018–19 season,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/2019/02/20/contract-update-five-players-sign-extensions/|title=Contract Update {{!}} Five Players Put Pen To Paper|date=20 February 2019|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=20 February 2019}}</ref> before again being extended until the end of November 2019 to provide World Cup cover.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/2019/03/26/carbery-signs-munster-contract-extension-until-2022/|title=Carbery Signs Munster Contract Extension Until 2022|date=26 March 2019|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref> His last appearance for Munster was in their 21–21 draw against French side Racing 92 in round two of the 2019–20 Champions Cup on 23 November 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2019/11/23/video-alby-mathewson-interview/|title=Video {{!}} Alby Mathewson Interview|date=23 November 2019|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=24 November 2019}}</ref>
He joined Munster's provincial rivals Ulster on a one-year contract in July 2020,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2020/02/alby-mathewson-to-join-ulster-rugby/|title=Alby Mathewson to join Ulster Rugby|date=25 February 2020|work=Ulster Rugby|access-date=25 February 2020}}</ref> and made his debut for the province in their 26–20 defeat against Connacht on 23 August 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/connacht-ulster-bonus-point-5183679-Aug2020/|title=Friend's impressive Connacht notch deserved bonus-point win over Ulster|date=23 August 2020|work=The42|access-date=24 August 2020}}</ref> Mathewson was released by Ulster at the end of the 2020–21 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/dan-mcfarland-ready-to-live-on-ian-madigan-kicking-winning-goals-as-ulster-prepare-for-new-lookfuture-over-summer-break-40509303.html|title=Dan McFarland ready to 'live on Ian Madigan kicking winning goals' as Ulster prepare for new-look future over summer break|date=7 June 2021|work=Belfast Telegraph|access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref> He joined Australian Super Rugby side Queensland Reds on a short-term contract as injury cover for Tate McDermott in March 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/mystery-arrival-with-former-all-black-landing-at-reds-2022310|title=Mystery arrival with former All Black landing at Reds|date=10 March 2022|work=rugby.com.au|access-date=12 March 2022}}</ref>
==Personal life== Mathewson and his wife, Cara Mathewson, have two sons together. The oldest was born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 2010. At the time Mathewson was training with the All Blacks. Their youngest was born in Perth, Australia in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Mathewson leaves All Blacks squad for birth of child|url = http://www.3news.co.nz/sport/mathewson-leaves-all-blacks-squad-for-birth-of-child-2010080615#axzz3spO9M06q|access-date = 2015-11-28|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208141929/http://www.3news.co.nz/sport/mathewson-leaves-all-blacks-squad-for-birth-of-child-2010080615#axzz3spO9M06q|archive-date = 8 December 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref>
==Super Rugby Statistics==
{{updated|11 March 2022}}<ref name="Player Statistics">{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_5337.html | title=Player Statistics | work=its rugby | access-date=26 July 2016}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; line-height:90%; font-size:95%; width:60%;" |- ! Season !! Team !! Games !! Starts !! Sub !! Mins !! Tries !! Cons !! Pens !! Drops !! Points !! Yel !! Red |- | 2007 || {{Rut|Hurricanes}} || 11 || 9 || 2 || 619 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 |- | 2008 || {{Rut|Hurricanes}} || 11 || 0 || 11 || 189 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 |- | 2009 || {{Rut|Hurricanes}} || 14 || 10 || 4 || 810 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 10 || 0 || 0 |- | 2010 || {{Rut|Blues}} || 13 || 13 || 0 || 939 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 30 || 0 || 0 |- | 2011 || {{Rut|Blues}} || 18 || 16 || 2 || 1161 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 30 || 0 || 0 |- | 2012 || {{Rut|Blues}} || 16 || 8 || 8 || 699 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 |- | 2013 || {{Rut|Force}} || 16 || 15 || 1 || 1142 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 2 || 0 |- | 2014 || {{Rut|Force}} || 9 || 8 || 1 || 564 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 |- | 2015 || {{Rut|Force}} || 14 || 11 || 3 || 813 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 1 || 0 |- | 2016 || {{Rut|Force}} || 11 || 10 || 1 || 623 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | 2022 || {{Rut|Reds}} || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- !colspan="2"|Total || 133 || 100 || 33 || 7559 || 20 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 100 || 3 || 0 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://munsterrugby.ie/player?PlayGuid=AM200659 Munster Profile] *[https://www.ulsterrugby.com/player?PlayGuid=AM200659 Ulster Profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130324035434/http://www.rugbywa.com.au/Team/EmiratesWesternForce/PlayerProfile/tabid/894/playerid/54/Default.aspx Western Force Player Profile] *{{ESPNscrum|83852}} *[https://www.pro14rugby.org/player/?PlayGuid=AM200659 Pro14 Profile] *{{EPCR profile|AM200659}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathewson, Alby}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:People educated at Hastings Boys' High School Category:Rugby union players from Hastings, New Zealand Category:Rugby union scrum-halves Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:New Zealand international rugby union players Category:Hurricanes (rugby union) players Category:Wellington rugby union players Category:Blues (Super Rugby) players Category:Western Force players Category:Auckland rugby union players Category:Hawke's Bay rugby union players Category:Canterbury rugby union players Category:Bristol Bears players Category:King Country rugby union players Category:RC Toulon players Category:Munster Rugby players Category:Ulster Rugby players Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in France Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in England Category:People educated at Havelock North High School Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen