Matthews was a general practitioner by profession and travelled with the 1980 Lions on their tour of South Africa as the team doctor.

[3] With the outbreak of the Second World War, Matthews applied to join the Royal Air Force, but was required to train as a doctor at the Welsh School of Medicine.

[5] Whilst stationed at RAF St Athan air base in the Vale of Glamorgan in 1943, Matthews fought future world champion Rocky Marciano in an amateur boxing match.

Marciano famously ended his career having won every professional match he fought in, but Matthews held him to a draw in a 4 rounder.

In 2004, he publicly criticised Sir Clive Woodward's coaching methods before the 2005 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.

[9] In the 1981 Birthday Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to rugby football.