Dunning
A tough competitor and a cult hero on the pitch, Matt Dunning is a retired Australian prop who played rugby union at club and international level.
Matt Dunning
Matt Dunning is a retired rugby union prop who represented Australia at international level and spent the majority of his professional career at clubs in this country. A cult hero for his large frame and his tough competitive nature – not typical of a player in a forward position – many consider him one of the nation’s best and toughest.
Matt Dunning was born in Calgary, Canada in December 1978 but raised in Sydney, Australia, the country he would later elect to represent – unlike his younger brother Casey Dunning who opted to pledge his rugby allegiance to Canada. He played the sport as a youth during his education at Northholm Grammar School, but in 1996 was called up to represent New South Wales in the Australian Rugby Schools Championships. He would then continue to play for the Australia U19s and U21s.
During his senior playing career Matt Dunning played for New South Wales Waratahs from 2000 to 2009 in what was the Super 12 and Super 14 (now Super Rugby Pacific), as well as for Sydney-based team Eastwood from 2000 to 2011. He ended his professional career with Western Force in 2011 and was set to sign for Biarritz, but unfortunately neck surgery meant he had to withdraw from his contract and ultimately, he opted to retire from the game.
Throughout his club career he made over 200 collective appearances but is perhaps now best known for his infamous ‘drop goal error’ in 2003. Dunning kicked the ball in the final moments of the game, intending to deliberately miss to force a line out to help his side possibly score more tries, instead the kick sailed expertly between the posts – much to his disappointment.
Matt Dunning made his international test debut in 2003 during the Rugby World Cup of the same year, in the record-breaking 142-0 win over Namibia. He was also selected for the next Rugby World Cup in 2007 and played in all four tournament games. In total he gained 45 caps for the Wallabies.
After his retirement he has worked as a rugby union coach in Australia, most recently at Balmain Rugby Club in Sydney in the 2013-14 season.
