Northampton Saints can today confirm that Sam Matavesi has signed a contract extension to remain at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
The 31-year-old hooker has made 67 appearances so far in Black, Green and Gold since arriving in Northampton from Cornish Pirates in December 2019, also scoring nine tries along the way.
As well as establishing himself as a first-team regular during his time at Saints, Matavesi is a Fijian international with 22 caps to his name to date, and Northampton’s Director of Rugby Phil Dowson is delighted to keep him at the Club for the foreseeable future.
“It’s fantastic to have Sam extend his contract,” he said. “He’s been a quality player since he signed for Saints.
“He’s got bags of skill and is very dangerous in terms of what he does in the loose, some of the breaks he makes, and his ability to offload.
“But I’ve also been particularly impressed with all the effort he puts in which often goes unseen to improve his set piece work and his defensive capability.
“He’s an international player with Fiji, so his experience there is invaluable, as is the massive energy he brings to our environment, both on and off the pitch.”
Phil Dowson, Director of Rugby
“Sam’s unbelievably competitive in training – whether that’s throwing with the other hookers, in a contact session, or trying to beat all our backs off the tee in kicking contests – which drives everyone’s standards up across the Club.
“We’re confident that with Sam signed up for the long term, as well as the other hookers already in place for the 2023/24 season, we’ll have one of the strongest groups in that position in the Gallagher Premiership.”
Matavesi began his career at hometown Club Camborne, progressing though Cornwall’s grassroots rugby system with stints at Plymouth Albion and Cornish Pirates after graduating from Exeter Chiefs’ academy.
The front rower’s career sky-rocketed in 2019 as his form earned him a loan spell with Toulouse, a French Top 14 title, and spot on the plane to the 2019 Rugby World Cup with the Flying Fijians – before he arrived at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens at the close of the year.
Matavesi balances his rugby with a military career in the Royal Navy – the Able Seaman’s stationing at RNAS Culdrose has already seen him feature in four of the annual Babcock Trophy clashes with the Army at Twickenham, as well as earn the Cossack Sword award in 2018 and UK Armed Forces Sportsman of the Year award in 2020.
He said: “Northampton really feels like home now for my family, so I’m delighted to sign on again with the Club.
“I’ve been here since 2019 but I now feel like I have earned my position as a first-team regular, and I love our philosophy and how we play the game here at Saints.
“I love the environment; it’s been fantastic under both Chris Boyd and Phil Dowson, and opening up the new training centre last week also just shows that this is a Club that is doing all the right things to get better.”
Sam Matavesi
“I remain extremely grateful to the Royal Navy for allowing me to continue playing rugby at the elite level, and to Saints’ coaches for their understanding of my role within the Navy. As a rugby player, you need to look to your future after your retirement, and it’s great to know I still have my career with the Navy ahead of me when that time comes.
“But I’m firmly focused on the years ahead in Northampton, and I am desperate to win something for the Club and our supporters. I genuinely believe that we can beat any side on our day and we just need to find some consistency, so lifting a trophy with Saints is a huge target for me looking forwards.”
