Fijians are rugby mad.

Rugby commentators usually prattle on about sevens rugby is the national sport of Fiji. However this writer begs to differ. Let it be known that RUGBY is the national sport of Fiji. It may be because Fiji once excelled in the abbreviated code, that the stereotype of only ‘being good sevens players’ has stuck.

Matavesi trains in Murrayfield ahead of his debut.

Not just the native iTaukeis, but people from every walk of life stop what they’re doing when a team of grunts don that white jersey for a bit of egg chasing. They get so invested in the matches, the fallout is a given should Fiji lose. Stories abound of people who have had fatal coronaries while watching and there have been instances of television screens attempting to fly, as they exit the home via the nearest window. The Fiji public is a made up of bad losers and it requires thick skin to coach or represent the country.

Josh Matavesi, a utility back for the Fiji National XV side, recently signed with the Worcestor Warrirors in England from Racing Metro in France. He can play any position in the backline but is more comfortable in the 10 and 15 jersey. Born to an English mother and a Fijian father, Josh has the makings of a rugby great. With Islander rugby instincts and a good rugby mind, he made the England Under-20 team for the 2009 Six Nations Under-20 tournament.

After that tournament, he played for the Fiji team during the Autumn Internationals against Scotland, Ireland and Romania. In his first start, Josh scored 9 points as Fiji beat Romania 29-18. The Warriors have signed on a player with a big future ahead and it makes perfect sense for them to invest in him.

"Josh is a player we've been watching closely and he excites us with the way he plays," Hill said. "We already have some players within our squad who know him well from his Exeter days and Cornish connections.”

The future of Fiji rugby - Josh Matavesi

Richard Hill, Worcestor coach readily admits that he is excitred about the prospect of having Josh carve up defences next season.

Ruggers in Fiji have different mentalities. You have your crash-ball exponents who love nothing better than to hit a gap at top peddle and there are bulky steamrollers who would rather run over opponents. Then you have twinkle-toed fairies (usually wingers) who prefer to weave their way through traffic and there are tenacious madmen who hit rucks at breakneck speeds that make a spectator cringe at the impact. But, there is one factor that is common in most Fiji ruggers. Speed. Combine that with the genetic build of the average Fiji Islander and that makes him naturally suited for the sport. Throw him into a match and he can fit into any position, bar the front row.

Josh is the future for Fiji Rugby and the FRU know that they must do all they can to keep him within their sights.

The Fiji National XV side struggled to make significant inroads on the global scene and it seemed that would always be the case. Most Fiji sides get stuck in the first quarter of a match. Then they begin to unravel after that. You can almost set your watch to it because it seemed to be the norm. If 15s rugby was only 10 minutes a half, Fiji would be up there in the rankings. That is why Fijians love and shine in sevens rugby. Seven minutes a half, fourteen in total and that is enough time to tackle, score, run, fend, and ruck at an optimum level without a drop in intensity.

There is a shortage of international rugby in the ‘Land of Smiles’. The only regular visitors to the shores are neighbors Tonga and Samoa. Other than that, touring teams are a hard thing to come by. Such is the hunger for rugby, that when even a NZ Divisional XV toured Fiji in the early 2000s, the National Stadium would be full of oval-ball lovers hoping to be entertained with good rugby.

This writer remembers fondly visits by Scotland, Italy, NZ Maoris, and Australia A but such tours have since dried up. Whatever Tests that have been handed down by IRB have been mostly away games for Fiji and the rugby public misses out.

Fiji will host Scotland in Lautoka, in June for their only home match of 2012. Undoubtedly the match will be well attended by the numerous rugby fanatics who reside in the islands.
Hopefully Josh Matavesi makes it into the side so he can continue to develop to be the world-class rugby player that we all know he can be.

Matavesi attacks for the Fiji Under-20 team