Josh Matavesi bucks the trend

Josh Matavesi is a Cornishman of Fijian decent, his father came to the uk on tour with Fiji, met Josh's mother and decided to a home here.

Josh is the product of Truro College, he has played for England under 20s, but made the decision to follow the roots of his father and represent Fiji at both U20s and full honours.

He has been a great and I hear popular, player at the Ospreys this season. I am sure all Ospreys fans wish him well this weekend.

I think it is wonderful to see one of the many South Sea Islanders that were schooled in Britain choose to represent the nation of their ancestors. With the current situations raised with the Samoan Rugby Union, and knowing full well that not much better is happening in Fiji and Tonga, these nations need all the help they can get.

Would he have got a game for any of the Home nations....probably not. So its a case to get interational honours.

But never the less i agree nice to see him picking fiji.

Shame the likes of Nathan Hughes etc dont follow suit.

Given our issues at inside centre Matavesi must have had a chance at a call up. Be interesting to hear how he gets on at ten.

I thought Nathan Hughes was an Australian?

Hughes was born in Fiji Sam but has close ties to Samoa so i think those would be his two closest.

But he seems to be suggesting he'll try for England under residency.

I've always thought he is a good player, decent enough at AP level at least. In reality I'm not sure he would have made it to a full England cap, so it is good that he is helping to improve Fiji.

I think he has been very impressive at inside centre for the ospreys. Certainly seems his best position. He has ball carrying, tackle breaking skills as well as pace, a good pass and a decent boot on him.

I think it's a shame he turned away from the country he was born and raised in for a country he hasn't (that I know of) lived in but at least it wasn't based on the grandparent rule (no-one will ever convince that is better than residency).

Fair play to the guy for choosing international rugby over representing his country (that the way these things go when it's the other way round, right?)

I'm pretty sure he's been playing for Fiji since 2009. I remember watching him play against Scotland.

HammerofThunor wrote:I think it's a shame he turned away from the country he was born and raised in for a country he hasn't (that I know of) lived in but at least it wasn't based on the grandparent rule (no-one will ever convince that is better than residency).

Fair play to the guy for choosing international rugby over representing his country (that the way these things go when it's the other way round, right?)

I see what you did there Hammer

GeordieFalcon wrote:Hughes was born in Fiji Sam but has close ties to Samoa so i think those would be his two closest.

But he seems to be suggesting he'll try for England under residency.

Born and grew up in fiji. Qualifies for samoa as well. Spent 4 or 5 years in nz, kelston boys, Auckland academy and Auckland.

He's hardly turned his back on England considering the fact he is Cornish

LeinsterFan4life wrote:He's hardly turned his back on England considering the fact he is Cornish

Tell that to Phil Vickery.

alexgmacdonald wrote:I'm pretty sure he's been playing for Fiji since 2009. I remember watching him play against Scotland.

Yeah, he got capped a while ago. I remember it being mentioned he was Cornish then.

Has he got a strong Cornish accent ? Bet that sounds odd in a probably very kiwi sounding changing room. Buckingthe trend somewhat ?

Those south sea islanders, nicking all our players...................

When is Phil going to call it a day anyway and finally retire to Cornwall? He's starting to embarrass himself hanging around the England hotel.

PHIL - quit it, NOW! You're only good enough for a top club now, International behind you.

Bluedragon wrote:Has he got a strong Cornish accent ? Bet that sounds odd in a probably very kiwi sounding changing room. Buckingthe trend somewhat ?

Those south sea islanders, nicking all our players...................

How about the Tongan, Vunipola brothers' south Wales accent in the England changing room

I am pleased Fiji have been able to get him as a player but I realize I'm being thoroughly inconsistent.

As Hammer notes, switch the circumstances around - he was born in Fiji, was raised there, and played his rugby there - then we'd have cries of poaching if he elected to play for England.

There's no reason why he can't be a proud Fijian player but we can't rule that everyone should have their loyalties fit in with our rugby sense of natural justice.

I've mentioned before how children born in Japan with a foreign parent have dual nationality until they are 20, after which they are obliged to decide whether to be Japanese or not. I know many people with children in this circumstance, and the truth is that most kids would rather not have to choose. It feels like having to say which side of the family you love most.

In the end, many take emotion out of it and just choose what is more practical for their education and career. I can't help feeling a lot of young rugby players do the same when looking at their international options.