Victor Matfield

Victor Matfield

Full name	Victor Matfield
Date of birth	11 May 1977 (1977-05-11)
Place of birth	Polokwane, South Africa
Height	2.0 m (6 ft 6 1⁄2 in)
Weight	110 kg (243 lb; 17 st 5 lb)
University	University of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Lock
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2007–2008	Toulon	15	(5)
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1999–2000 2001–	Griqualand West Blue Bulls
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1999–2000 2001–2007 2008–2011	Cats Bulls Bulls	8 124	(0) (40)
correct as of 18 June 2011.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2001–2011	South Africa	110	35
correct as of 9 October 2011.

Victor Matfield (born 11 May 1977 in Pietersburg (now in Limpopo Province), South Africa) is a South African rugby union player. He has played for, and captained the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls franchise in Super Rugby. He is generally considered one of the best locks in the world and has had a long successful partnership with Springbok and Blue Bulls teammate Bakkies Botha.

Besides almost always winning his own line-out ball, Matfield is known for his exceptional skill at disrupting opposition line-outs – this skill was a cornerstone of their 2007 World Cup success, where he was crowned IRB (International Rugby Board) player of the Rugby World Cup – and his speed around the field led former Australian coach Eddie Jones to comment that he should be an Olympic sprinter instead.^{[citation needed]} He also possesses good upper body strength, with the ability to bench press 155 kg. In 2008 he became the first international captain to beat the All Blacks in New Zealand since Martin Johnson in 2003. Matfield retired after the 2011 World Cup after an impressive career, leaving the game as the record Springbok cap holder.

Youth

Growing up Matfield had a love for both rugby and cricket, and even represented Far North Schools in the latter^{[citation needed]}. When an injury affected his batting and bowling he decided to pursue rugby instead and was selected for Far Norths junior Craven Week team before playing lock for Pietersburg High School. He made it to the Craven Week competition for high schools in two successive years before being selected for Far North's senior provincial team while still in his final year of high school.^{[citation needed]}

Junior rugby career

After school, Matfield went to study at the University of Pretoria where he made the university's under-21 side. It did not take long for him to be selected for the Blue Bulls under-21 side as well.

In 1997, Matfield was selected for the under-21 Springbok side captained by Bobby Skinstad. Matfield was also selected for the 1998 squad.

Senior rugby career

A big turning point in Matfield's career came when he decided to leave the Blue Bulls for the Griquas in 1999, where he was also selected to represent the Cats in the Super 12 that year. The move allowed him to prove his worth, and in 2000 he was given the opportunity to represent the Bulls Super 12 team.

His hard work did not go unnoticed, and in 2001 he was finally selected for the Springbok squad, making his debut on 30 June 2001 against Italy. Matfield went on to help the Springboks' renaissance in 2004 and 2005; in the latter year, he made the five-man shortlist for IRB World Player of the Year.

Matfield was an instant selection for South Africa's 2007 World Cup winning-squad, and won the Man of the Match award in the final for his brilliant work in the line-out and, in a show of fine all-round skill, he even put in a perfect cross-field touch-finding kick!

Matfield had been linked with a move to Leicester Tigers of the English Premiership after the 2007 Rugby World Cup. However, in June 2007, he signed a six-month contract with French second division club Toulon, which he will join on 1 January 2008. At Toulon, he will join an ambitious side whose president Mourad Boudjellai has signed many veteran superstars for the 2007–08 season, such as Australian George Gregan, the sport's all-time leader in international appearances; Andrew Mehrtens, the all-time leading scorer for the All Blacks; and, as coach, former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga.

It had recently been revealed that Matfield was considering withdrawing from his contract with Toulon in an attempt to make himself available for a possible offer from The Sharks for the 2008 Super 14. Eventually, he and Umaga came to an agreement that Matfield would play for Toulon in a stretch of nine key fixtures in January and February 2008, and then return to South Africa and play for the Bulls in the 2008 Super 14. Toulon are currently making a strong drive for promotion to the Top 14, and are atop the 2007–08 second division table as of 6 March 2008. As for Matfield, his main concern was reported to be that the South African Rugby Union has not yet decided whether to continue with its recent policy of allowing a limited number of overseas-based players to play for the Springboks.

Matfield has won the Currie Cup final three times ('02, '04 & '09 having been on World Cup duty in '03 when Bulls won and withdrawn from Currie Cup action in '06 by the then Springbok coach Jake White when the Bulls shared the cup), the Super 14 title in 2007, 2009 and 2010, the Tri-Nations in 2004 and 2009 and the Rugby World Cup in 2007. Matfield may retire from the Springboks after the 2011 World Cup, and has intimated he would consider a coaching career in Australia, perhaps with the NSW Waratahs.

Accolades

In 2008 he was inducted into the University of Pretoria Hall of fame.

Personal life

Matfield married Monja Bekker on 12 December 2003. They have two daughters; Jaime, born on New Year's Day 2006, and Giselle, born on 14 April 2009.

Honours

• 2002, 04, 09 Currie Cup winner (Blue Bulls)
• 2007, 09, 10 Superrugby winner (Bulls)
• 2004, 09 Tri-Nations winner (Springboks)
• 2007 Rugby World Cup winner
• 2011 Rugby World Cup

External links

• French articles
• ESPN Profile
• Victor Matfield at SARugby.co.za
• Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame profile
• Sunday Times article: Young giant shows old hands he can 'really jol'
• RC Toulon

Sporting positions
Preceded by John Smit	Springbok Captain 2007,2008	Succeeded by Johann Muller