Player Dossier - Matt Stevens

Articles: Matt Stevens profile at Bath Rugby

The X-Factor Interview with Matt Stevens

How to mix sport and politics

* Matt recently graduated from the University of Bath where he studied Politics and Economics.

* He came second place in a special celebrity version of the X-Factor just prior to the Summer of 2005, losing out (rather harshly) to former Eastenders star Lucy Benjamin.

* A nickname of his is SoS, refering to Son of Swede. His predecessor at Bath, John Mallett, was called Swede because of his big head and when Matt first arrived at the club, since he was thought to have a big head too, the nickname was born.

* His most respected opponents are England counterpart prop Phil Vickery and South African loosehead Os Du Randt.

* Matt is a big fan of authors JM Coetzee and JRR Tolkien.

Exclusive Interview with Matt Stevens

Sporting-Heroes Stats & Pictures

"I came to England to study first and I'm a big believer in balance and I think if I was just a rugby player I'd drive myself crazy. You need to do other things, especially in that younger stage in your life, for me at least. I think I need to go and do something with my sport and that was studying, I wanted to broaden my horizons, deepen my knowledge and make friends outside rugby."