Victor Matfield

Victor Matfield
	Matfield in June 2006
Date of birth	11 May 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth	Pietersburg, South Africa (now Polokwane, South Africa)
Height	2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight	117 kg (258 lb; 18 st 6 lb)
School	Hoërskool Pietersburg
University	University of Pretoria
Children	4
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	Lock
Youth career
1994–1995	Far North
Senior career
Years	Team
1998, 2001–2002,; 2004–2005, 2008–2010	Blue Bulls
1999–2000	Griquas
1999–2000	Cats
2001–2007, 2009–2011,; 2014–2015	Bulls
2007–2008	Toulon
2015–2016	Northampton Saints
1998–2016	Total
	Correct as of 13 June 2015
International career
Years	Team
1995	S.A. Academy
1997–1998	South Africa Under-21
2000	S.A. Under-23
2001–2015	South Africa (tests)
2000–2011	South Africa (tour)
2002	S.A. 'A'
2014–2015	Springboks
	Correct as of 30 October 2015
Men's Rugby union
Representing South Africa
Rugby World Cup

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]

^ ^a ^b South African Rugby Annual 2018. South African Rugby Union. 2018. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-0-620-78461-0.
^ South African Rugby Annual 2015. South African Rugby Union. 2015. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-620-62087-1.
^ South African Rugby Annual 2016. South African Rugby Union. 2016. pp. 124–125. ISBN 978-0-620-69290-8.
^ "The greatest: Number five lock". PlanetRugby.com. 26 October 2009. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
^ "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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[South_African_Rugby_Annual_2018-1] South African Rugby Annual 2018. South African Rugby Union. 2018. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-0-620-78461-0.

[South_African_Rugby_Annual_2015-2] South African Rugby Annual 2015. South African Rugby Union. 2015. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-620-62087-1.

[South_African_Rugby_Annual_2016-3] South African Rugby Annual 2016. South African Rugby Union. 2016. pp. 124–125. ISBN 978-0-620-69290-8.

[5] "The greatest: Number five lock". PlanetRugby.com. 26 October 2009. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2009.

[Matfield_to_join_Vodacom_Bulls_playing_squad-6] "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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