Victor Matfield

Victor Matfield
Matfield in June 2006
Date of birth (1977-05-11) 11 May 1977 (age 47)
Place of birthPietersburg, South Africa (now Polokwane, South Africa)
Height2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight117 kg (258 lb; 18 st 6 lb)
SchoolHoërskool Pietersburg
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Youth career
1994–1995 Far North
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1998, 2001–2002,
2004–2005, 2008–2010		 Blue Bulls 54 (25)
1999–2000 Griquas 36 (40)
1999–2000 Cats 8 (0)
2001–2007, 2009–2011,
2014–2015		 Bulls 140 (40)
2007–2008 Toulon 15 (5)
2015–2016 Northampton Saints 17 (0)
1998–2016 Total 253 (110)
Correct as of 13 June 2015
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1995 S.A. Academy
1997–1998 South Africa Under-21 8 (5)
2000 S.A. Under-23 5 (5)
2001–2015 South Africa (tests) 127 (35)
2000–2011 South Africa (tour) [a] 4 (0)
2002 S.A. 'A' 1 (0)
2014–2015 Springboks [a] 2 (0)
Correct as of 30 October 2015
Medal record
Men's Rugby union
Representing  South Africa
Rugby World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2007 France Squad
Bronze medal – third place 2015 England Squad

Victor Matfield (born 11 May 1977) is a South African former professional rugby union player. He played for and captained the South Africa national team (Springboks) 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 to have ever played for South Africa[4] and had a long successful partnership with Springbok and Blue Bulls teammate Bakkies Botha.

Matfield was known for his success 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. In 2008 he captained the first team to beat the All Blacks in New Zealand since England in 2003. Matfield initially retired after the 2011 World Cup, leaving the game as the record Springbok cap holder, but returned after a two-year hiatus, signing a two-year playing contract with the Bulls for 2014 and 2015.[5]

  1. ^ a b South African Rugby Annual 2018. South African Rugby Union. 2018. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-0-620-78461-0.
  2. ^ South African Rugby Annual 2015. South African Rugby Union. 2015. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-620-62087-1.
  3. ^ South African Rugby Annual 2016. South African Rugby Union. 2016. pp. 124–125. ISBN 978-0-620-69290-8.
  4. ^ "The greatest: Number five lock". PlanetRugby.com. 26 October 2009. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  5. ^ "Matfield to join Vodacom Bulls playing squad" (Press release). Bulls. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.


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