A tireless Hooker and one of the Flying Fijians senior players. Matavesi, a member of the Royal Navy is in his first season with Lyon since leaving Premiership Champions Northampton.
Sam Matavesi played the final 26 minutes of the Flying Fijians win over Scotland. He came on after a couple of lost lineouts by the home side who up until that point were doing quite well.
With Matavesi dropping out of professional rugby and returning to Camborne RFC to join his brother Josh, this leaves a fair sized hole to fill given that Tevita Ikanivere is headed to Japan. Come the November window, we could see our top 2 Hookers missing from the squad.
Sam Matavesi came on as a replacement for Skipper Tevita Ikanivere in the Flying Fijians first hitout of the year against the Wallabies. With the team struggling at lineout, the injection of Matavesi immediately improved their performance in that area.
His experience and accuracy immediately visible although Fiji couldn’t hold on to their lead in the dying stages.
A tough decision for coach Mick Byrne on whether to start Matavesi in their test against Scotland.
Competition | Club | Games | Tries | Points | Conversions | Penalty Kicks | Drop Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top 14 | Lyon | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Challenge Cup | Lyon | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Competition | Years | Club | Games | Tries | Conv | Pen Kicks | Drop Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top 14 | 2024-2025 | Lyon | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Challenge Cup | 2024-2025 | Lyon | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Premiership | 2019-2024 | Northampton | 73 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65 |
Champions Cup | 2019-2024 | Northampton | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Challenge Cup | 2019-2024 | Northampton | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Top 14 | 2019 | Toulouse | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Championship | 2017-2020 | Cornish Pirates | 32 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 |
Championship | 2010-2015 | Plymouth | 37 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Years | Team | Games | Tries | Conversions | Penalty Kicks | Drop Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013-2025 | Flying Fijians | 35 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
The Flying Fijians have defeated Scotland in Suva 29-14. In a memorable day for the men in white, they scored 3 tries and were awarded a penalty try while Caleb Muntz kicked penalty goal.
Scotland started both halves strong, scoring both their tries in the first 5 minutes of each half. But once Fiji started gaining momentum, they visitors struggled to keep up at times.
Tevita Ikanivere scored Fiji's first try through a lineout maul before Kalaveti Ravouvou finished off a clinical backline move to dot down in the right corner.
In the second half it was in-form winger Jiuta Wainiqolo who broke through, beat several defenders before scoring a brilliant try.
Whilst Fiji will take the win, their were several tryscoring opportunities gone begging.
Rakaviti is an independently run service for the love and passion of Fijian Rugby.
Rakaviti is an independently run service for the love and passion of Fijian Rugby.