Background
Mathews was born on 7 February 1864.
Mathews was born on 7 February 1864.
He was educated at Llandovery College before matriculating to Street David"s College, Lampeter.
A clergyman by profession, after ordination he was curate, and then vicar of Holy Trinity, Swansea from 1887-1897. He became vicar of Blaenavon in 1897 and remained in Monmouthsire until his death. He died on 12 August 1946.
Mathews began playing rugby at a young age, taking up th sport as a schoolboy at Llandovery College.
He continued playing the sport when he matriculated to Street David"son Mathews played only a single game for Wales, when he faced Scotland in the second and final Welsh match of the 1886 Home Nations Championship.
Played at the Cardiff Arms Park, Mathews was brought into the team at halfback, replacing captain Charlie Newman, and partnered with William Stadden of Cardiff. The game was an important match in the history of rugby, as it was the first international to see the use of the four threequarter system, brought in by Frank Hancock.
The game did not go well for Wales and the threequarter system was abandoned mid-match, which caused further confusion, resulting in a simple Scottish victory.
Newman was reselected to his position for the next season, and Mathews did not represent Wales at rugby again. Despite an end to his international career, Mathews later joined first-class Welsh team Swansea Reconstruction Finance Corporation, and was part of the team that faced the touring New Zealand Natives in 1888. International games played
Wales
Scotland 1886.