HAVING hoisted the Premier 15s title in June, Alex Matthews has ticked off virtually ever accolade in the sport but the Gloucester-Hartpury and England back row is more driven than ever to push her personal standards.
Gloucester-Hartpury's 34-19 victory over Exeter Chiefs in the final saw Matthews become a Premier 15s champion having already being crowned a World Cup winner, Grand Slam conquerer and Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, all at the age of just 29.
But flanker Matthews says there's still plenty of desire left in her.
She told The Rugby Paper: “When I won the World Cup in 2014 I'd just turned 21 and I thought what do I do now? I've done everything that I've wanted to do in a team sport.
“But I'm very much driven by my personal standards and as long as I'm enjoying it, adding value to everyone around me, I'll keep pushing and trying to be better. I'm not fussed by the individual accolades, I know some want to be named player of the year but I just want to keep playing and adding value to people around me.”
Matthews had endured a frustrating season as after her England side fell just short of the World Cup in New Zealand, she was then sidelined for four months after tearing her hamstring at the beginning of the year.
But she returned from injury with vengeance and spearheaded Gloucester- Hartpury in the business end of the season with a player of the match 28-tackle performance against Bristol Bears in the semi-final and kept up her defensive heroics for the full 80 of the final.
Surrey-born Matthews, who joined Gloucester- Hartpury in 2022 from University of Worcester Warriors, would love to play a consistent role next season in helping her side win back-to-back title but recognises the stiff competition they'll face.
She said: “I've hardly played any club rugby, I literally rocked up for the big games at the end. I was very thankful for the summer break as this has been the longest season ever. We started pre-season this time last year, so only a few weeks off a full year of a season which is crazy.
“You use this time off to reflect. Before the final I would have said I'd had a rubbish season but I was involved in the World Cup, the Six Nations final at Twickenham and then changing clubs with the girls coming together and finishing the way they deserved.
“There's been quite a few exciting moves across the league this summer so I don't think any team is going to be the same as it was this year. We've got to go in firing. To go back-to-back would be amazing but we'll see how it goes.”
Matthews, who has 40 caps, is looking forward to working with new head coach John Mitchell.
She added: “I'm excited for the change. I don't know him as he's still with Japan until after the World Cup but I'm really looking forward to how the Red Roses change and how the environment, coaching philosophies evolve.
“The match against Canada in Exeter in September is the next fixture if I'm selected. Exeter always provide such a good audience, so that'll be exciting. The last time we played Canada it was touch and go as they made us sweat in the World Cup semi-final.”
