Former Australian rugby league and union legend Mat Rogers is suddenly back on our radar after the announcement that he will be starring in the upcoming season of Survivor Australia: Champions versus Contenders!
It has been almost seven years since he’s been on our TV screens every weekend, which got us thinking: Who is Mat Rogers? What has been doing in his time away from the spotlight? And why is he making his comeback now?
Keep scrolling to find out everything you need to know about Mat before the premiere of Survivor Australia later this year.
The former Wallabies player said he was thrilled when he was approached to be on the show as a Champion, revealing “[I] was a huge fan from the very first series, we use to have Survivor nights at Mum and Dad’s place!”
Who is Mat Rogers?
The 42-year-old is the son of late Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks legend and CEO Steve Rogers. Mat is one of few dual-code (league and union) internationals, playing both for the Kangaroos and the Wallabies.
He is currently married to former model and media personality Chloe Maxwell, who he married in 2008 after his divorce from his first wife, Michelle Miller, with whom he has two children, Jack and Skylar.
Mat Rogers’ career so far
Following in his father’s footsteps, Mat also played for the Sharks from 1995-2001. During this time, Mat became a League legend, playing in seven test matches for the Kangaroos as well as two State of Origin series’ for Queensland (the winger moved to the Gold Coast when he was 12 after his father retired from the Sharks).
Mat set numerous records during his time with the Sharks including:
Most career points (all grades) – 1321 points (1994 – 2001)
Most points in a season – 212 points (including 18 tries and 70 conversion goals – 2000)
Most points in a match – 26 points (3 tries, 7 conversion goals in a match against Newcastle – 2000)
However, in 2001, Mat shocked the nation with his decision to switch to rugby union.
Mat proved he was a true jack-of-all-trades excelling in this code as well. Making his Wallabies debut in June 2002 alongside former NRL player Wendell Sailor, together they became the 41st and 42nd dual-code internationals in Australian history. Throughout his five seasons as a Waratah, he became the third highest point scorer with 202 points.
Mat already is an Australian household name and will earn some younger fans soon with his appearance on Survivor!
Yet again, not wanting to be predictable, Mat returned to rugby league in 2007. Mat played for the newly formed Gold Coast Titans until his retirement in 2011 after taking the Titans to that year’s NRL grand final.
What is Mat Rogers doing now?
Since his retirement from sport, Mat has been committed to raising awareness about the harrowing effects of depression – a cause close to his heart since the death of his father, Steve, in January 2006. His father battled depression for three years prior to his death.
Mat has spoken publicly about his fears of developing a mental illness, which affects 1 million Australians, including one in six men.
Mat is also an inspiring motivational speaker, experienced in corporate presentations, sporting functions and Q&A sessions.
Mat and his wife, Chloe Maxwell, also founded the charity 4 ASD KIDS after the overwhelming messages of support and assistance they received after going public in 2009 about their son Max’s battle with autism.
The charity aims to assist families of children battling with an Autism Spectrum Disorder to access early intervention treatment that they believe is critical to giving these kids the best chance at leading normal lives.
Who is Mat Rogers’ wife?
Chloe Maxwell is an Australian television presenter and model. She was discovered during an A Current Affair story featuring a model recruiter, who claimed they could pick a model just by looking at them.
After her discovery, she started her career as a “Jeanswest girl” before transitioning to a career in television presenting. Maxwell worked for numerous channels including Fox8, E News Australia, Channel V Australia and Channel 7.
Maxwell also wrote a biography for Harper Collins called Living With Max, Our Family Story.
Surprisingly, she has the world record for interpretative dancing for 30 hours straight.
Chloe and Mat have two children: Maxwell Danger, born June 5, 2006, and Phoenix, born September 21, 2007.
“The glue that holds us all together is my beautiful wife, Chloe, and without her I don’t know where I’d be. I’m the luckiest man in the world,” says Mat.
We’re sure his family can’t wait to watch him on the upcoming season of Survivor Australia – we know we can’t!
