Overview
Hi, I’m Matt Trenary. As a former player and current coach of rugby, I’m curious about the tactical areas of the sport. This site uses statistical analysis to investigate less understood aspects of rugby. I will often draw from analysis strategies that are used in other sports, mostly American, as well as rugby fifteens.
I’ve chosen to focus on sevens instead of fifteens for a few reasons. 1. I can record more games in less time. 2. Sevens events are easier to isolate and given the quantity of games, I can more easily relate these events to game outcomes. 3. I enjoy the increased parity and variety of strategies compared to fifteens.
Rugby
Like many Americans, I didn’t begin playing rugby until college. I played four years at the University of Michigan, shorter stints in New Zealand and England, and a few years in Denver while I worked at USA Rugby. I got involved in coaching whenever injuries took me out of the game or I found myself with a bit of extra time. After finishing my serious playing career, I took up coaching as a profession back at the University of Michigan.
Personal
My wife and I have two energetic children. We enjoy exploring Michigan’s wonderful beaches and forests with the kids and also our dog, Luci. As a Trenarian, I have strong convictions about and deep obsessions with, many trivial matters. These include salsa ingredients, driving efficiency at four-way stops, and indoor sandal usage.