Sam Matavesi

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Sam Matavesi
Sam Matavesi 2017.jpg
Full nameSamuel Sireli Matavesi
Date of birth (1992-01-13) 13 January 1992 (age 33)
Place of birth Truro, England
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight102 kg (225 lb; 16 st 1 lb)
School Camborne Science and International Academy
Notable relative(s) Josh Matavesi (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Openside flanker
Current team Camborne RFC
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2012–2015 Plymouth Albion 37 (20)
2017–2019 Cornish Pirates 32 (60)
2019 → Toulouse (loan) 3 (5)
2019–2024 Northampton Saints 80 (65)
2024–2025 Lyon 18 (10)
2025– Camborne RFC 0 (0)
Correct as of 3 September 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2013– Fiji 38 (30)
Correct as of 12 July 2025

Sam Matavesi (born 13 January 1992) is a Fijian rugby union player who plays for National League 2 West club Camborne RFC. He has previously played notably for Northampton Saints and in the French Top 14 with Toulouse and Lyon. His position of choice is hooker even though he has played at openside flanker and Number 8 for Plymouth.

Contents

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. [1]

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 joined Northampton Saints in the Premiership Rugby with immediate effect from the 2019-20 season. [2]

After leaving Northampton Saints in 2024, Matavesi joined Lyon, his second stint with a Top 14 side, having already played for Toulouse earlier in his career. [3]

After two seasons with Lyon, Matavesi moved back Cornwall to join Camborne RFC to play alongside his brother Josh Matavesi. [4]

References

  1. ↑ "Sam Matavesi: Cornish Pirates forward happy to balance Royal Navy career with rugby". BBC. 3 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "Hooker Sam Matavesi joins Northampton Saints". Northampton Saints. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Sam Matavesi: Toulouse sign Cornish Pirates hooker on loan until end of season". BBC. 11 April 2019.
  4. ↑ "Camborne signal their future intent with Matavesi signing". The Cornish Times. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025.


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