Coventry Rugby have confirmed the signing of highly-experienced, former England international Matt Kvesic.
The 31-year-old back-rower joins Cov from Italian side Zebre Parma where he finished last season following the collapse of Worcester Warriors.
Through a glittering Premiership career with Worcester, Gloucester and Exeter Kvesic made more than 200 senior appearances and he now brings this experience to a Coventry side which finished in third place in last season’s RFU Championship.
Kvesic began his rugby journey with Swanage and Wareham RFC before joining Worcester Warriors’ academy at the age of 14. After a number of stand-out displays for county side North Midlands and the Midlands Division the flanker earned England honours at U16 and U18 level.
Kvesic made his senior debut for Worcester in 2009, in the process becoming the youngest player to represent the club in the professional era.
England U20 honours followed as Kvesic became an integral part of the Warriors’ line-up before signing for Gloucester in 2013 – the year during which he made his first of his four senior appearances for England against Argentina.
In 2017 Kvesic left Gloucester for local rivals Exeter Chiefs, where he remained until the summer of 2020 when he returned to boyhood club Worcester.
After being forced to look elsewhere to continue his playing career following Worcester’s autumn collapse the flanker signed for Italian side Zebre Parma where he completed the 2022/23 season.
Kvesic said he is thrilled to follow close friend and former Exeter and Warriors’ teammate Will Chudley to the Butts Park Arena.
“I’m really looking forward to playing some rugby; I’m still really hungry to play and contribute to the team,” he said.
“The Championship is a tough, competitive league and hopefully we can close the gap on those top two teams and go past them.”
“I’ve been well informed by Will that this is a real family club, and you can see with the number of Season Memberships just how energetic our home games will be. It should be really good fun, I’m looking forward to it.”
5 players you didn’t realise were still playing – including THREE England legends
We take a look at five former top-flight rugby players who are somehow still lacing up their boots most weekend's.
#1. Tom Varndell
Oxford Harlequins welcomed the former premiership record try scorer who will take on a dual role combining his rugby management career with his exceptional rugby talent.
Varndell has agreed to assume the position of Head of Rugby at Oxford Brookes University, which has close links to Oxford Harlequins.
In addition to his management role, he will also become the Head of Community at the club, while still playing for the team.
Marcus Boswell, the student sport manager at Oxford Brookes had the following to say about their star capture;
“To secure someone of Tom’s calibre, as a coach and a mentor, is of great excitement for both our current and prospective students who are looking to play rugby union,
“It goes without saying that the relationship between Oxford Brookes and Oxford Quins continues to go from strength to strength, and this announcement is another indication of that.
“We will continue to work hard in all areas of our sporting delivery and wider area of activity together, and reap the successes both on and off the pitch for our student athletes.”
#2. Sean O'Brien
The former Ireland and Lions flanker returned to Leinster, this summer, to take up a coaching role with a side he won multiple league and European titles with O'Brien. However, he just couldn't stay retired, making his rugby comeback with Naas RFC.
O'Brien had been seeking to play for his club, Tullow, when he returned from his professional rugby stint in England, with London Irish. That move to a junior-level side was prevented when the domestic level section of the Leinster Rugby branch stated it would be going against safety guidelines for a just retired professional to immediately drop down to play at that level.
#3. Joe Simpson
Simpson joined seventh tier Old Priorians in February, and made his debut for the Saints the following weekend against London Sussex.
The scrum-half - who made 230 appearances for Wasps in the Premiership (along with spells for Gloucester, Bath and Sale) and played for England at the 2011 World Cup - retired from the professional game in December 2022 and follows his brother Michael in pulling on the OPs shirt.
#4. Mike Tindall
England legend and World Cup winner Tindall plays a selection of matches for Minchinhampton, the club close to his home.
The centre played outside centre for Bath and Gloucester, and won 75 caps for England between 2000 and 2011. He was a member of the England squad which won the 2003 World Cup.
#5. Shane Williams
The Wales legend made a return to Welsh rugby in 2017, coming out of retirement to play for his beloved Amman United. The former Wales and British Lions star stunned spectators as he took the field for his home town side in the National League 3 West B match against Burry Port. He then played for them in a final at the Millenium Stadium. He's since played a further handful of games for the club.
