By SUZANNE McFADDEN
Matt Stevens is continuing an elite trend, giving Australian rules players an intelligent name.
For the last two years, players from the University club in Auckland have been awarded Rhodes scholarships to study at Oxford. Last year, his friend and clubmate, Thomas Rutledge, became a Rhodes scholar and is studying medieval English and Latin.
Now 22-year-old Stevens, who has played rules for New Zealand, is off to join him at Oxford to study German.
The connection does not end there. Rutledge's brother, Peter - not a rules player, but a hockey player - won a Rhodes scholarship two years ago.
Stevens was introduced to Australian rules four years ago, through Thomas Rutledge. "He was a year ahead of me at Auckland Grammar, and he got my brother, Tim, into footy. I just followed," he said.
Stevens had to miss the Auckland grand final last weekend - where University were beaten by North Shore - because he had his final interview in Wellington for the scholarship. His first term at Oxford University begins next October. In the meantime he has to finish his thesis for his masters degree in German at Auckland University.
His passion for the language began five years ago when he was an exchange student in Germany and finished top of the class in German language. At Oxford he will study for a PhD in German linguistics.
And once a year he will get to play Aussie rules - Oxford play one match a season against their traditional rivals, Cambridge.
"I think I'll really miss my footy. There's a league down in London that I'll certainly go and watch, but I won't have time to play," said Stevens, who represented New Zealand in Darwin last year. "But right now, it's a matter of priorities. And I'll be back."
PICTURED: Matt Stevens / FOTOPRESS
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