Seattle, September 26, 2017: The Seattle Seawolves are proud to announce the arrival of Mathew Turner as both the team’s Operations Director and as a Senior Player. Mat will be seen in multiple roles with the Seawolves including assisting as the rugby ambassador for the club. “We are thrilled to have Mat on board. It’s hugely beneficial to have someone with Mat’s immense experience and passion associated with the team,” said Adrian Balfour, co-founder of the Seattle Seawolves.

Turner will be a key man working behind the scenes to support team operations and the coaching group. “I’m extremely excited to be given the opportunity to be part of the Seattle Seawolves team on and off the field. Getting to be part of the launch of professional rugby in North America is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” Mat has been competing alongside players from the Seattle area over this past summer in the 7s league. “I look forward to playing and winning alongside these athletes again in 2018,” said Turner at the time of announcement.

We are excited to welcome Mat to the Seawolves family.

More about Mathew Turner:

The 29-year-old from South Africa has rich experience of playing in various Rugby leagues across different continents over the last decade. Mat started his professional career by representing Currie Cup winning Western Province Under-19 team in Cape Town in 2007/08 season. In 2008, he was included in the UCT Ikey Tigers team that played in the inaugural edition of the Varsity Cup competition. Mat finished as the top try scorer in the competition and eventually graduated to South Africa’s Under-20 training squad.

In 2008, Turner moved to England to join Premiership side Bristol and made an instant impact by scoring his first try within three minutes of coming on to the field in that year’s Anglo-Welsh Cup. Turner qualified to play internationally for England and was selected for the England sevens team and made his debut in the 2008 IRB Sevens World Series. He immediately established himself as a regular in the England setup and eventually went on to play a total of 34 Sevens World Series tournaments between 2009 and 2013, scoring 92 tries. In 2012, Turner was also nominated for the IRB Sevens Player of the Year award, and was top try scorer of the series in the same year with 37

In 2012 and 2015, Turner played for the Central Kings in Sri Lanka at the Carlton International 7s tournament. In August 2015, he was appointed as the head coach of the Sri Lanka national rugby sevens team, leading them to 2nd overall in the Asia Nation 7s for the first time.

More about the Seattle Seawolves:

The Seattle Seawolves Rugby Football Club was founded in 2017 by a Seattle-based investor group led by Adrian Balfour and Shane Skinner. As an affiliate of Major League Rugby, the Seawolves are proud to be Seattle's professional rugby team.

Media Contact:

Media@SeattleSeawolves.com