Matthew McNab

Matthew McNab (born 8 June 1998) is a Zimbabwe rugby union player, currently playing for Coventry in England's Elior Champ. His preferred position is centre or wing. He is the son of Zimbabwe mountainbiker Lee McNab who raced at the 2007 UCI African Mountain Bike Championships

Professional career McNab represented Zimbabwe Academy in the 2019 Rugby Challenge. He was then named in the squad for the 2022 Currie Cup First Division. He joined in 2020, and joined on loan in 2022.

McNab signed a one-year Cornish Pirates in the RFU Championship - England's second division - ahead of the 2023-24 season. McNab quickly established himself as one of the best players in the league, scoring 13 tries in 26 games across the Championship and Premiership Rugby Cup as well as being selected in the Championship's Team of the Season. He was also voted Cornish Pirates' Supporters Player of the Season. After agreeing a one-year contract extension, McNab had an equally strong 2024-25 season, overcoming injury problems to score 14 tries in the league and rank as its 5th top try-scorer as well as making his second consecutive appearance in the league's Team of the Season.

After 52 appearances and 30 tries for the Pirates, McNab signed for Doncaster Knights ahead of the 2025-26 season.

International career Having played consistently for Zimbabwe's age-grade sides, McNab made his full international debut against Morocco in Zimbabwe's 2018 Rugby Africa Gold Cup campaign, going on to play in each of Zimbabwe's five matches and scoring one try against Kenya. He returned to the side in the 2021-22 Africa Cup, playing in each of Zimbabwe's five matches and scoring six tries, including a brace and a hat-trick in consecutive matches against Burkina Faso.

After Zimbabwe's failed 2023 Rugby World Cup qualification campaign, McNab took time away from international rugby, initially as Zimbabwe did not compete in test rugby at all in 2023, and then due to his move to play club rugby in England for Cornish Pirates. After two successful seasons with the Pirates, in both of which McNab was selected in the RFU Championship team of the season, McNab agreed a move to Doncaster Knights and returned to Zimbabwe's squad for their 2025 Rugby Africa Cup campaign. McNab started in Zimbabwe's semi-final and final wins against Kenya and Namibia respectively as Zimbabwe became African champions and qualified for the 2027 World Cup, marking the country's first appearance at the World Cup since 1991.

Career statistics

International tries

Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score 1 Nairobi, Kenya RFUEA Ground 2018 Rugby Africa Gold Cup Loss 36 – 45 2 Harare, Zimbabwe Old Georgians RFC 2021 Rugby Africa Cup Win 101 – 3 3 4 Harare, Zimbabwe Old Georgians RFC 2021 Rugby Africa Cup Win 95 – 5 5 6 7 Amsterdam, The Netherlands NRCA Stadium 2022 mid-year tests Win 30 – 7 8 Marseille, France Stade Delort 2022 Rugby Africa Cup Win 38 – 11