Matavesi replaces Ratuvou

The Fiji Times - Wednesday, November 04, 2009 5:08 PM

EXETER Chiefs teenager Josh Matavesi has received a call-up to the Fiji squad that begins a three-match tour of Europe this month.

The 19-year-old has been asked to join up with the squad this weekend after Flying Fijians and Saracens winger Kameli Ratuvou pulled out because of club committments.

Exeter head coach Rob Baxter thinks it is a 'fantastic opportunity' for Matavesi to show his talents on a bigger stage.

Fullback Matavesi graduated from the club's academy over the summer and has played just four games for the first team.

And despite playing for England at junior age group level, the lure of his family's homeland proved too much.

The former Mounts Bay player grew up in Camborne after his dad Sireli toured Cornwall with the Fiji Barbarians 22 years ago and decided to stay.

Matavesi was contacted last week to see if he would be available for the tour and the Chiefs were officially notified of his call-up yesterday.

Fiji plays Scotland on November 14 and Ireland a week later before completing their tour against Romania on November 28.

"We have received official confirmation from Fiji that they would like Josh to join their squad for their northern hemisphere tour," said Baxter.

"For Josh it's probably come a bit out of the blue, but he's decided to represent Fiji and as a club we're 100 per cent behind him.

"It is a fantastic opportunity for him to showcase his talents and experience a different rugby environment with different players.

"Hopefully it will be a positive step for Josh in his development and will lead to opportunities to win more caps in the future ahead of the (2011) World Cup (in New Zealand)."

Fiji Rugby Union acting chief executive Keni Dakuidreketi said Matavesi was the ideal player to call up in Ratuvou's absence.

"He (Matavesi) is a worthy replacement as he is someone who has proven his worth and can cover a number of positions," he said.

Matavesi, the oldest of three rugby-playing brothers, has worked with Exeter coaches Ricky Pellow and Robin Cowling since he was 14.

They oversaw his development at Truro College before he was signed on a two-year professional contract in May.

Baxter thinks Matavesi's call-up is a credit to their hard work and also that of the other coaches at Sandy Park who have helped nurture him this season.

"It shows the quality of player that is being developed at Truro College under Ricky Pellow and Robin Cowling," he said.

"It is also a credit to everyone who has worked with Josh at Exeter Chiefs on developing his conditioning and his game understanding.

"The fact that he's now been selected to take part in a senior international squad says a lot about what we are trying to achieve."

The Chiefs will discuss Matavesi's position in their academy when he returns from international duty.