Full name | Samuel Sireli Matavesi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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.
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]
Owen Joshua Lewsey MBE is an English former rugby union player who represented England and the British and Irish Lions. Lewsey is a former British Army Officer.
Dylan Hartley is a former rugby union player who represented England and Northampton Saints.
Camborne RFC was established in 1878, known locally by fans as 'Town', are one of the most famous rugby union clubs in Cornwall. They are currently champions of Regional 1 South West, a level five league in the English rugby union system and are promoted to National League 2 West.
Louis Picamoles is a former French professional rugby union player who most recently played for Bordeaux Bègles in the Top 14. Picamoles's usual position was at number eight.
Darren Dawidiuk is a former rugby union footballer, who last played for Premiership Rugby outfit Bristol Bears. He played as a hooker.
Joshua Lewis Matavesi is a rugby union player, who currently plays for National 2 (West) side Camborne RFC, and formerly played for the Fiji national team at international level. Matavesi was born in Cornwall, England, to a Cornish mother and Fijian father.
Michael Thomas van Vuuren is an English qualified, South African rugby union footballer. His regular playing position is hooker.
David Patrick Ward is an English rugby union player for Premiership side Harlequins, and Head Coach of Bristol Bears Women. A hooker, Ward has previously played for Ampthill RUFC, Sale Sharks, Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby and the Cornish Pirates. At international level he has represented the England under-18s, under-21s and Saxons.
Tom Kessell is a professional rugby union player for the Cornish Pirates in the RFU Championship.
Charles William Bernard Clare is a professional rugby union player for Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby. His principal position is hooker. Previously he played for Bedford Blues in the RFU Championship, and for Northampton Saints in Premiership Rugby.
Jamal Ford-Robinson is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Premiership Rugby side Gloucester.