Josh Matavesi
 | |||
| Full name | Joshua Lewis Matavesi | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 5 October 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Camborne, Cornwall, England, UK | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Weight | 112 kg (17.6 st) | ||
| School | Camborne Science and Community College | ||
| University | Truro College | ||
| Notable relative(s) | Sam Matavesi (brother) Joel Matavesi (brother) | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Current status | |||
| Current team | Ospreys | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Fly-half, Wing, Centre, Fullback | ||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2008–2009 2009–2011 2011–2012 2012–2014 2014– |
Mounts Bay Exeter Chiefs Racing Métro Worcester Warriors Ospreys |
10 5 11 38 52 |
(3) (0) (10) (15) (30) |
| correct as of 24 August 2015. | |||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2010 2009– |
Fiji U20 Fiji |
3 17 |
(14) (40) |
| correct as of 19 November 2016. | |||
Joshua Lewis Matavesi (born 5 October 1990) is a Cornish rugby union footballer. He is a utility back, and represented Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership, and Fiji in international rugby. He recently signed a contract to join Pro 12 team, the Ospreys for the 2014–15 Pro12 season.
Early life and domestic rugby
Matavesi was born in Cornwall to a Cornish mother and Fijian father.[1] His father, Sireli Matavesi, who is from Vanua Balavu, Lau Islands, Fiji, toured the United Kingdom as a Fiji Barbarian in 1987 where he met his wife, Karen. He was offered a contract by the Camborne RFC. Josh also played rugby for the same club as his father. He also played for Mounts Bay RFC in the National Division Two. He also played for Truro College and has also made a handful of appearances for Exeter United. In December 2008, he was called up to the England Under-20 squad for the 2009 Six Nations Under-20 tournament.[2] He was signed on by the Exeter Chiefs in August 2009 before[3] making his debut against Sale Sharks at fullback.[4] Josh played in the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship with Fiji U20s in Argentina. It was then announced that he had signed on for Racing Métro 92 in the Top 14 competition as a medical joker i.e. replacement for the injured flyhalf, Juan Martin Hernandez. He made his Top 14 debut off the bench against SU Agen in April 2011. In 2012, he signed a contract with Worcester Warriors. On 31 January 2014 he signed for the Ospreys.
International career
In November 2009, he was called up to join the Fiji team for the 2009 Autumn Internationals against Scotland, Ireland and Romania, replacing Kameli Ratuvou, who was not available.[5] He made his debut against Scotland playing at fullback and was replaced in the second-half.[6] He came off the bench against Ireland, replacing Norman Ligairi at fullback, but in the final test against Romania, he started at flyhalf because Fiji's first choice 10, Nicky Little had already returned to his club along with a few other players.[7] Fiji defeated the Romanians 29 - 18 with Matavesi scoring 9 points and converting 3 of the 4 tries.[8]
He was part of Fiji's U20 team in the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship in June 2010. In October, he was selected again in to the Fiji team to take part in Fiji's end of year rugby tour to Europe.
In 2015 Matavesi was named in Fiji's world cup squad.
Personal
He identifies himself as "Cornish Fijian" and has said that he feels Cornish, not English.[1] He is 6'1 and weighs 99 kg.
References
- 1 2 "Matavesi the Cornish Fijian feels at home". International Rugby Board. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
- ↑ "Six Nations call-up for Matavesi". Western Morning News.
- ↑ "Chiefs sign young fly half Matavesi". everythingrugby.com.
- ↑ "Exeter Chiefs – Cornishman Josh Matavesi". Western Morning News.
- ↑ Matavesi replaces Ratuvou
- ↑ "Josh Matavesi – Exeter Chiefs rugby – Exeter sport This Is Exeter – Exeter Express and Echo". Exeter Express and Echo.
- ↑ "<?php echo $row_inside_story['title']; ?>". fijilive.com.
- ↑ "Home". planetrugby.com.