Matt Philip

Matt Philip
Full nameMatthew Philip
Born (1994-03-07) 7 March 1994
Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia
Height2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight117 kg (18 st 6 lb; 258 lb)
SchoolSt Augustine's College, Sydney
Rugby union career
Position Lock
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014−2016 Sydney University 19 (0)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014−2015 Sydney Stars 15 (10)
2016 Southland 10 (0)
2017 Perth Spirit 3 (0)
2018 Melbourne Rising 3 (0)
2020–2021 Pau 13 (10)
2023–2025 Yokohama Canon Eagles 35 (10)
Correct as of 4 July 2023
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016−2017 Force 13 (5)
2018–2020 Rebels 46 (30)
2022–2023 Rebels 17 (15)
2025– Waratahs 3 (0)
Correct as of 28 January 2026
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 Australia Schoolboys
2014 Australia U20 8 (0)
2017– Australia 31 (0)
2025 ANZAC XV 1 (0)
Correct as of 24 September 2023

Matt Philip (born 7 March 1994) is an Australian rugby union footballer who currently plays as a lock for the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super Rugby[1] and the Australia national team. In 2026 Philip, whom was born in Sydney, was named team captain of the Waratahs for the first time.[2] Philip previously played for the Melbourne Rebels and the Western Force in the Super Rugby;[3] French Top 14 side Pau; and Japanese team Yokohama Canon Eagles. Philip made his international debut in 2017 for Australia, having previously represented Australia in schoolboys rugby, and the Australia under-20s team.

Early life

Philip was born and raised on Sydney's Northern Beaches in suburb of Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia.[4] He attended St Augustine's College, Sydney.[5] Philip represented Australia at schoolboy level in 2012, and under-20 level in 2014.[6]

Rugby career

Philip initially made his way in the game turning out for Sydney University in the Shute Shield where his form earned him a call-up to the Sydney Stars squad ahead of the inaugural National Rugby Championship in 2014. He made 15 appearances for the Stars across two seasons and scored two tries in that time.[7][8]

Philip's rise to the Super Rugby level was a swift one as an injury crisis in the Force's second row saw him cross Australia from Sydney to Perth to train with them during the 2016 mid-year rugby union internationals break.[9] He was subsequently named in the Force's squad for their two-match tour of South Africa and debuted as an early blood replacement for Rory Walton in the game against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. He made three substitute appearances in total during the 2016 Super Rugby season.[3] Later in 2016, he joined Southland in the Mitre 10 Cup.[10][11]

In 2017, Philip was a first-choice starter at lock for the Force.[12] After his strong performances for Perth Spirit in the NRC,[13] he was invited into the Barbarians team to play Australia in Sydney,[14] and then selected the Australian squad for the 2017 Wallabies tour.[13][15] He made his test debut for Australia in the team's win against Japan on 4 November 2017, replacing lock Adam Coleman in the second half.[16][17]

In 2025 Philip signed a two-year deal with the Waratahs beginning in July 2025 (post-2025 Waratahs season), having returned from Japan Rugby League One (JRLO) club Yokohama Canon Eagles at the end of their 2024–25 season.[5][18] Philip made his debut for the club against the British & Irish Lions during the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia in July 2025. Philip came on as a substitute for Miles Amatosero in the 51st minute. The Waratahs lost 10–21.[19][20] On the same tour Philip made an appearance for the ANZAC XV against the Lions, coming on as a substitute for Angus Blyth in the 55th minute. The ANZAC XV lost 0–48.[21]

In January 2026 Philip was named Waratahs captain ahead of their 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, taking over from scrum-half Jake Gordon.[4][22] Philip commented after the announcement, saying "It's a huge honour and privilege to be named captain of the Waratahs and it's something I don't take lightly. We're extremely connected as a squad. It's our second year under Dan (McKellar) and the boys know what to expect. We're one year on of how we want to play, so both on and off the field I think we're going to see those connections come to fruition."[4] Philip also spoke to The Sydney Morning Herald, stating: "I've gone kind of full circle. I had to go to a lot of places over a decade to come back and be able to play here. [Becoming captain] is probably the biggest moment in my career. I grew up supporting the Tahs, I am a New South Welshman."[22] He added of his previous captain: "Me and Jake Gordon are really good friends, we played together through our juniors and been mates for a long time, and he's obviously done a great job over the last five years. Obviously, there's a lot of pressure and expectation that comes along with being a captain."[22]

Super Rugby statistics

As of 28 January 2026.[23]
Season Team Games Starts Sub Mins Tries Cons Pens Drops Points Yel Red
2016 Force 3 0 3 84 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2017 Force 10 8 2 634 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
2018 Rebels 16 12 4 973 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
2019 Rebels 15 14 1 1037 3 0 0 0 15 1 0
2020 Rebels 6 6 0 458 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020 AU Rebels 9 8 1 679 1 0 0 0 5 1 0
2022 Rebels 14 14 0 1120 3 0 0 0 15 0 0
2023 Rebels 3 3 0 186 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025 Waratahs Did not play; joined post-season
2026 Waratahs TBD
Total 76 65 11 5,171 10 0 0 0 50 2 0

References

  1. ^ Doran, Christy. "Wallabies momentum continues as young gun re-signs and another Japan-based RWC lock is returning". theroar.com.au. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  2. ^ "Sydney-born Philip to captain NSW Waratahs in 2026". waratahs.rugby. New South Wales Rugby Union. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b "Whirlwind debut for young lock Matt Philip". Western Force. 5 July 2016. Archived from the original on 6 July 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Sydney-born Philip to captain NSW Waratahs in 2026". waratahs.rugby. New South Wales Rugby Union. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Matt Philip to return home with NSW Waratahs". wallabies.rugby. Rugby Australia. 6 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Matt Phillips (Matt Philip) – profile stats (international)". It's Rugby. Retrieved 18 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ^ "Matt Philip Sydney Stars Player Profile". Sydney Stars Rugby. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Matt Phillips (Matt Philip) – profile stats". It's Rugby. Retrieved 18 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ^ "Matt Philip earns Super Rugby call-up". Rugby News. Archived from the original on 2 July 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Australian lock Matthew Philip arrives to help Southland Stags in 2016 campaign". Rugby Heaven. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ^ "Meet the 2016 Southland Stags squad for the 2016 national provincial season". Rugby Heaven. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Matt Phillips (Matt Philip) – Super Rugby season 2017 - games started". It's Rugby. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  13. ^ a b "Uncapped locks make Wallabies tour squad: Matt Philip and Blake Enever are bolters in the Wallabies spring tour squad". Special Broadcasting Service. 29 October 2017. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  14. ^ "Alan Jones names partial Barbarians squad". Special Broadcasting Service. 13 October 2017. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  15. ^ Decent, Tom (29 October 2017). "Blake Enever, Matt Philip, Jack Maddocks and Liam Wright the bolters for Wallabies spring tour". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  16. ^ "Spirit lock Matt Philip in line for test debut". RugbyWA. 2 November 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  17. ^ "Japan v Australia at Yokohama". ESPN Scrum. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  18. ^ Cameron, Ian (7 April 2025). "Matt Philip returns to Australia for shot at Lions and Rugby World Cup". RugbyPass.
  19. ^ Drennan, Jonathan; Payten, Iain (5 July 2025). "Lions Tour LIVE updates: Lions extend lead but Waratahs hang in". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment.
  20. ^ Doyle, Michael (5 July 2025). "British and Irish Lions live: NSW Waratahs host Lions in Sydney". ABC News.
  21. ^ Pentony, Luke; Smale, Simon (12 July 2025). "British and Irish Lions thrash AUNZ XV 48–0 in final tour match before first Test against Wallabies". ABC News.
  22. ^ a b c Payten, Iain (27 January 2026). "Fight club hasn't damaged team harmony: Waratahs new skipper confident of unity". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  23. ^ "Matthew Phillip – profile stats". It's Rugby. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
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