Whilst solid performances on the field have helped his North Wales Crusaders side sit top of League One, away from rugby Matty Unsworth can also be found playing a key role within the construction industry.
Unsworth began his rugby league journey at amateur level playing open age with his local club, Shevington Sharks.
Having remained with them until the age of 25, Unsworth went on to sign with Super League outfit Salford Red Devils with whom he remained until arriving in North Wales in 2024.
Having established himself within Carl Forster’s Crusaders squad last year, Unsworth went on to earn a new deal for 2025, however his career away from rugby is also developing.
“At the start of the year, I stepped into a consultant role as a Delay Analyst within the construction industry, he said.
“My background is in civil engineering, I studied it at University and gained practical experience working on-site as a site and senior engineer.
“That hands-on understanding of how projects are built led me to move into project planning, where I used Primavera P6 to develop and manage construction programmes, track progress, mitigate risk and assess delays as well as supporting project delivery.
“Now, as a Delay Analyst, I focus on the forensic side of construction.
“I analyse project records and programmes to understand where delays occurred, why they happened, and who was responsible.
“My work supports claims, dispute resolution, and helps clients make informed decisions based on clear, evidence-based analysis. It’s a role that brings together my technical knowledge, planning expertise, and contractual awareness, and it gives me a broader strategic view of how construction projects succeed—or go off track.”
Touching on how he finds balancing his work with rugby, he added: “Balancing work with playing and training can be tough and all part-time players will say that, no matter what job they have due to the demands it can require.
“But for me now it’s definitely manageable with the right structure. In my role as a Delay Analyst, I have the flexibility to manage my workload effectively, which allows me to train consistently and stay committed to rugby.
“I make sure to stay organised, plan my week in advance, and communicate clearly with both my team at work and my coaches.
“I find that my careers on and off the field complement each other well as the rugby keeps me physically sharp and mentally focused, while work challenges me in different, more analytical ways. It’s a demanding balance, but one I enjoy and take seriously.”
Matty Unsworth is proudly sponsored by LCS Pipework, you can find out more about sponsorship options with North Wales Crusaders by emailing commercial@nwcrusadersrl.com
With his North Wales side going into this weekend’s Betfred League One clash against Workington Town sat top of the league, three points clear of their Cumbrian counterparts, Unswroth said he’s enjoying the year to date at Crusaders.
“It’s been a really enjoyable season so far.
“Coming from mainly amateur rugby and only being in a professional setup for a few years, it’s been a great experience to be part of such a high-quality squad.
“I’ve learned a lot from being around experienced players and a group that has real potential to win the league. It’s something I never expected to be part of, so I’m genuinely grateful for the opportunity and proud to play my part in the journey.
“The group is also really tight, a great set of blokes, which makes the environment even better and compliments the quality on the pitch.”
Looking ahead to the remainder of the season, he added: “We’ve put ourselves in a great position at this stage of the season, and the goal is definitely to push on and challenge for the league.
“That said, we know there’s still a long way to go and plenty of tough games ahead against quality opposition.
“Our focus is just to take it week by week, stay consistent, and keep building. Hopefully, if we stick to that mindset, we’ll have something to show for it come the end of the season.”
You can catch Matty Unsworth and North Wales Crusaders in action this Sunday in Colwyn Bay as we welcome Workington Town to Stadiwm CSM in a top of the table clash! Save money on matchday prices by booking your tickets HERE.