Ex-England flanker Matt Kvesic joins Coventry Rugby

Coventry Rugby have confirmed the signing of highly-experienced England international forward 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.

Kvesic made more than 200 senior appearances during a glittering Premiership career with Worcester, Gloucester and Exeter and he now adds this experience to a Coventry side which claimed 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.

'I’m now a rugby creditor but what that means we will see, which I don’t think will be anything'@mattkvesic talks to @heagneyl 🧑‍💻 about life after Worcester, @ZebreParma and trying to find a new club in a flooded market https://t.co/wFFxdqZlVl

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 7, 2023

In 2017 Kvesic left Gloucester for Premiership 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.”

Head Coach Alex Rae believes that the experience that Matt brings will be invaluable for his relatively young side.

“We’re delighted to bring Matt to Coventry,” he said. “He’s a proven top-end Premiership player who’s also been capped for England.

“The thing that impressed me most was his desire and enthusiasm to come and have an impact on the field for Coventry and also to help our younger players develop by sharing his experience.

“Everyone you speak to only has good things to say about Matt as a person which was equally appealing, so we think it’s a terrific fit and one to be excited about.”