Matavesi happy he is back home in Cornwall
BATH, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: Josh Matavesi of Bath Rugby passes the ball during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Bath and Leicester Tigers at The Recreation Ground on April 18, 2021 in Bath, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
Among the quaint villages and historic towns that dot the local landscape, Josh Matavesi has once again discovered the magic of his Cornish connection.
From the warmth of familiar faces or the hearty laughter shared over a large steak pasty, life in the Duchy is a celebration of simplicity, a hymn sung by crashing waves and the call of seagulls overhead.
After years of embarking on a rugby journey which has seen him stop off at various locations around the world, the 33-year-old has found himself drawn back to the very heart that shaped him, his native Cornwall.
Having been given his first introduction to the game with Camborne's mini and juniors section, it's somewhat fitting that, after 17 years of professional rugby, his career has now come full circle.
“It was the right time to move home,” said Matavesi, whose late father Sireli came to the English county in 1987 as captain of a Fijian touring team.
Although Matavesi Snr returned home briefly, it wasn't long before he accepted an offer to come back to England and play for Camborne and work as a local tin miner. In the years that followed, he went on to become one of the most popular figures in Cornish rugby – and it was a given that his three sons, Josh, Sam and Joel, would duly follow in his footsteps.
As the oldest of the siblings, Josh has always led the way, starting out initially with Exeter Chiefs, before turning out for Worcester, Newcastle and Bath, as well as Ospreys in Wales, Racing 92 in France and, in recent times, Toyota Shuttles in Japan.
His on-field talents were clear to see from an early age and have helped take him to the very top of the game, including winning 47 Test caps for Fiji, as well as representing the Barbarians in 2018 when, incidentally, he wore Camborne club socks.
“I had the option of another year in Japan and a couple of offers Return: Josh Matavesi to come back to the Premiership, but I had to think about my wife and the two children,” he added. “They had to come first. They've sacrificed so much for me over the years, moving home, moving schools, making new friends, and it does take a toll after a while.”
Now, Matavesi is combining his new rugby life – which includes helping bringing through the club's youth talent – with that of a day job working in retail consultancy with a company called CLX, who are also principal sponsors of the National Two West outfit.
“Camborne's home and when the opportunity arose to come back, I literally couldn't wait,” said Matavesi. “I'm back playing with a load of my old mates, playing at my local club and just enjoying everything I do.
“The club, as people will see, is really on the up. On and off the field, there is a real feel-good factor about the place and it's one of those old-school, traditional rugby clubs.
“People perhaps under-estimated us at the start of the season, but we've been putting in some great performances and we just want to build on that over the remainder of the season.”
