Sam Matavesi
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| Full name | Samuel Sireli Matavesi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 13 January 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Truro, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 102 kg (225 lb; 16 st 1 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Camborne Science and International Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Josh Matavesi (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sam Matavesi (born 13 January 1992) is a Fijian rugby union player who plays for Lyon in the French Top 14 competition as of the 2024-25 season, having departed Northampton Saints with whom he spent 5 seasons. Lyon will be Matavesi's second stint with a Top 14 side, having already played for Toulouse earlier in his career.[1] His position of choice is hooker even though he has played at Blindside flanker and Number 8 for Plymouth.
Career
Sam is the younger brother of Josh Matavesi. His father, Sireli Matavesi came to England in the 1980s from Fiji and never left. He played for Cornwall, a team his 3 sons also played for. Sam also works for the Royal Navy, working out of the RNAS Culdrose as well as playing for their rugby union team.[2]
He made his debut for the Flying Fijians against Canada in the 2013 IRB Pacific Nations Cup off the bench at Number 8. In December 2019, Matavesi joins Northampton Saints in the Premiership Rugby with immediate effect from the 2019-20 season.[3]
References
- ^ "Sam Matavesi: Toulouse sign Cornish Pirates hooker on loan until end of season". BBC. 11 April 2019.
- ^ "Sam Matavesi: Cornish Pirates forward happy to balance Royal Navy career with rugby". BBC. 3 December 2017.
- ^ "Hooker Sam Matavesi joins Northampton Saints". Northampton Saints. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
External links
- Sam Matavesi at European Professional Club Rugby
- Sam Matavesi at Premiership Rugby (archived)
- Sam Matavesi at ESPNscrum
- Sam Matavesi at ItsRugby.co.uk
