Matt Hankin

Profile

Before making the first of his five England U18 appearances against Ireland at Donnybrook in December 2010, Matt Hankin had no doubt about his previous best rugby experience. “It was playing for Saracens in an Aviva A League match against London Wasps and coming up against Serge Betsen.”

Farnborough-born Matt studied for A levels at Haileybury and is now taking a business degree part-time at Hertfordshire University, having begun playing the game when nine at Beckenham RFC. He represented England U16 and captained Saracens U18 against the Ospreys, adding to the leadership experience he gained with Kent U16. Before that, Matt was educated at High Field Junior in Bromley, where he had football trials for Kent and was also schooled at Beckenham and Hertford. 

Formerly with Blackheath, where he was players’ player of the year, he also won plaudits as player of the tournament at the U16 Four Nations and helped Langley Park to win the Daily Mail Vase. Blackheath lifted the Kent Cup during each of his three years with the club.

He continued: “I used to play centre for my old school, then at full back before moving to the back row. My mentors are Jan Bonney, the academy manager at Saracens and Richard Hill and my career aims outside the game include becoming a construction manager.” He has recently been on loan to Old Albanians, of National One and his favourite ground is Franklin’s Gardens, the home of Northampton Saints.

Matt’s brother Steve was also a Daily Mail Vase winner at Twickenham, the ground where Matt fondly remembers appearing for the first time. His other favourite game was his first match for England U16 against Italy. He also plays squash and golf and rates Saracens’ hooker Schalk Brits, Sébastien Chabal and Quade Cooper as his top men on the rugby field.

U20 International Record

Uncapped

Last updated: April 24, 2013

Related news