| Victor Matfield | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Victor Matfield | ||
| Date of birth | May 11, 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Pietersburg, now Polokwane, South Africa | ||
| Height | 2. Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Pietersburg is a City, Municipality and the capital of the Limpopo province in South Africa. Pietersburg is a City, Municipality and the capital of the Limpopo province in South Africa. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa 00 m (6 ft 61⁄2 in) | ||
| Weight | 110 kg (240 lb) | ||
| College | University of Pretoria | ||
| Occupation(s) | Professional rugby union footballer | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Lock | ||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| 1999-2000 2001- | Griqualand West Blue Bulls | ||
| Super Rugby | Caps | (points) | |
| 1999-2000 2001- | Cats Bulls | ||
| National team(s) | Caps | (points) | |
| 2001- | South Africa | 66 | (25) |
Victor Matfield (born 11 May 1977 in Pietersburg (now Polokwane), South Africa) is a South African rugby union player for the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls franchise in the Super 14. The University of Pretoria is a University in Pretoria South Africa, with a total of about 57409 students being enrolled in 2008 Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short A Rugby union team is made up of 15 players eight forwards numbered from 1 to 8 and seven backs numbered from 9 to 15 A Rugby union team is made up of 15 players eight forwards numbered from 1 to 8 and seven backs numbered from 9 to 15 The Wildeklawer Griquas are a South African Rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup Tournament. The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons named Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by the club's Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle, are The Super 14 is the largest Rugby union football club championship in the Southern hemisphere, consisting of four state teams from Australia (Queensland/Reds A cap is an appearance for a select team such as a school county or international team in sports The Lions, known as the Cats through the 2006 season, are a South African Rugby union franchise that competes in the Super Rugby competition The Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Bulls, are a South African Rugby union team competing in the Super 14 competition The following is a list of international Rugby union teams A cap is an appearance for a select team such as a school county or international team in sports The South Africa national Rugby union team (commonly referred to as the Springboks in English Springbokke in Afrikaans and Amabokoboko Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Pietersburg is a City, Municipality and the capital of the Limpopo province in South Africa. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short The South Africa national Rugby union team (commonly referred to as the Springboks in English Springbokke in Afrikaans and Amabokoboko The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons named Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by the club's Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle, are For the cricket competition originally known as the Currie Cup see SuperSport Series. The Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Bulls, are a South African Rugby union team competing in the Super 14 competition The Super 14 is the largest Rugby union football club championship in the Southern hemisphere, consisting of four state teams from Australia (Queensland/Reds He is widely regarded as the best lock in the world and has had a long successful partnership with Springbok and Blue Bulls teammate Bakkies Botha. A Rugby union team is made up of 15 players eight forwards numbered from 1 to 8 and seven backs numbered from 9 to 15 John Philip "Bakkies" Botha, usually referred to by his nickname (born 22 September 1979 in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal Province) is a
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 - and his speed around the field led former Australian coach Eddie Jones to comment that he should be an Olympic sprinter instead. A line-out is the means by which in Rugby union, the ball is put back into play after it has gone into touch. The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in Rugby union. He also possesses good upper body strength, with the ability to bench press 155kg (source http://lifestyle.iafrica.com/hislife/interview/226054.htm .
Contents |
Youth
Growing up Matfield had a love for both rugby and cricket, and even represented Far North Schools in the latter. Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries 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. The Craven Week is an annual Rugby union Tournament organised for schoolboys in the Republic of South Africa. He made it to the Craven Week competition for highschools in two successive years before being selected for Far North's senior provincial team while still in his final year of high school.
Junior rugby career
After school, Matfield went to study at the University of Pretoria where he made the university's under-21 side. The University of Pretoria is a University in Pretoria South Africa, with a total of about 57409 students being enrolled in 2008 It did not take long for him to be selected for the Blue Bulls under-21 side as well. The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons named Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by the club's Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle, are
In 1997, Matfield was selected for the under-21 Springbok side captained by Bobby Skinstad. Robert Brian "Bobby" Skinstad (born 3 July 1976 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) is a Zimbabwean -born South African 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 Wildeklawer Griquas are a South African Rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup Tournament. The Lions, known as the Cats through the 2006 season, are a South African Rugby union franchise that competes in the Super Rugby competition 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. For the rugby sevens side see Italian national rugby union team (sevens The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Matfield went on to play a major role in the Springboks' renaissance in 2004 and 2005; in the latter year, he made the five-man shortlist for IRB World Player of the Year. The International Rugby Board (IRB is the world governing and law-making body for the sport of Rugby union, and previously for Rugby football.
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. Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English Rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. The English Premiership (known as the Guinness Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Guinness) is a professional league competition for Rugby The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international Rugby union world championship inaugurated in 1987. [1] However, in June 2007, he signed a six-month contract with French second division club Toulon, which he will join on 1 January 2008. Rugby Pro D2, also known as Pro D2 is the second level of domestic club Rugby union in France, below the first division Top 14. RC Toulonnais (also known as RC Toulon or just Toulon) is a French professional Rugby union based in Toulon in Provence-Alpes-Côte New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common [2] 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. The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in Rugby union. George Musarurwa Gregan AM (born 19 April 1973 in Lusaka, Zambia) is an Australian Rugby union who has made more appearances for his national Andrew Philip Mehrtens MNZM (born 28 April 1973 in Durban, South Africa) is a The All Blacks are New Zealand's national team in Rugby union, the country's National sport. Jonathan Falefasa "Tana" Umaga, ONZM, (tɑːnə 'uːmʌŋə born 27 May 1973 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand is a New Zealand Rugby union footballer
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. The Sharks are a South African Rugby union team competing in the Super 14 competition (Super 10 from 1993-1995 and Super 12 from 1996-2005 The 2008 Super 14 season started in February 2008 with pre-season matches held from mid-January 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. The Top 14 is a Rugby union club competition which is played in France. The 2007-08 Rugby Pro D2 was a French Rugby union club competition Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common 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. [3]
Personal Life
Born to an Afrikaans father and Rhodesian mother, Matfield also has a unique link with the indigenous Maori of New Zealand from where his grandmother (mother) hails. In December 2003 he married Monja Bekker. They have one daughter, Jaime.
References
- ^ Cain, Nick. "Player exodus threatens world order", The Sunday Times, 2007-04-29. The Sunday Times is a Sunday Broadsheet Newspaper distributed in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1429 - Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orleans. Retrieved on 2007-04-30. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule
- ^ Matfield not lost to SA rugby. News24. com (2007-08-03). Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 8 - Roman Empire General Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus. Retrieved on 2007-08-20. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine
- ^ Johnstone, Duncan. "Matfield rushing back to Bulls", Rugby Heaven, 2007-12-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 218 BC - Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal 's Carthaginian forces defeat those of the Retrieved on 2007-12-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 324 - Licinius abdicates his position as Roman Emperor.
External links
- French articles
- 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
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic