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)
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
2007 France
Squad
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]
^ abSouth 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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VictorMatfield (born 11 May 1977) is a South African former professional rugby union player. He played for and captained the South Africa national team...
national rugby union team records South Africa's most capped player is VictorMatfield with 127 caps. The Lock played his last test match on the 30th of October...
2009: Martin Corry (vs. Eng) Jun 2009: Phil Waugh (vs. Aus) Dec 2009: VictorMatfield (vs. NZ) May 2010: Xavier Rush (vs. Eng) Jun 2010: Xavier Rush (vs...
Finals. Botha became widely associated with fellow international lock VictorMatfield for their highly successful onfield partnership with the Springboks...
the tournament, being replaced as captain by veteran Springbok lock, VictorMatfield. In 2009, Smit led South Africa to a series victory against the visiting...
African history and the fourth most capped Springbok of all time behind VictorMatfield, Bryan Habana and Eben Etzebeth. With his 117 caps, Mtawarira is the...
161–3 to the Golden Lions on 27 April 2013. Springbok rugby captain, VictorMatfield grew up in Pietersburg. Former Springbok rugby captain John Smit was...
Welford Road less than a month earlier, but it was Wasps who emerged as victors, winning the game 25–9. Everyone was telling us this was the best Leicester...
junior Grand Slam, with an England Schools side that included Kevin Simms, Victor Ubogu and Carling's future Durham and Harlequins teammate Andy Mullins,...
are the only father-son combination who captained South Africa. 3 ^ VictorMatfield returned as captain in June 2014 after Jean de Villiers was injured...
2009: Martin Corry (vs. Eng) Jun 2009: Phil Waugh (vs. Aus) Dec 2009: VictorMatfield (vs. NZ) May 2010: Xavier Rush (vs. Eng) Jun 2010: Xavier Rush (vs...
Cup, Etzebeth started in a locking partnership with retiring captain VictorMatfield against Argentina for the Bronze Final. Etzebeth played the full 80...
25–29 South Africa Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Try: Willem Alberts, VictorMatfield Con: Morné Steyn 2 Pen: Morné Steyn 5 Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)...
25 14 June Wales Kings Park Stadium, Durban 38–16 Welsh test series VictorMatfield 2nd 26 21 June Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit 31–30 2nd 27 28 June Scotland...
history of the Springboks (a record since surpassed by John Smit, VictorMatfield and Tendai Mtawarira). For most of his career, he played in the domestic...
most-capped forward in the history of the country's national team, VictorMatfield, is a native of Polokwane. Basketball: The province is home to Limpopo...
2009: Martin Corry (vs. Eng) Jun 2009: Phil Waugh (vs. Aus) Dec 2009: VictorMatfield (vs. NZ) May 2010: Xavier Rush (vs. Eng) Jun 2010: Xavier Rush (vs...
International Hall of Fame. South Africa's most capped player is VictorMatfield with 127 caps. Matfield was the most-capped lock for any nation in rugby history...
2009: Martin Corry (vs. Eng) Jun 2009: Phil Waugh (vs. Aus) Dec 2009: VictorMatfield (vs. NZ) May 2010: Xavier Rush (vs. Eng) Jun 2010: Xavier Rush (vs...
resulting lineout the Bulls won possession. After two phases Bulls captain VictorMatfield passed the ball to Pierre Spies who broke through the Sharks line to...
2009: Martin Corry (vs. Eng) Jun 2009: Phil Waugh (vs. Aus) Dec 2009: VictorMatfield (vs. NZ) May 2010: Xavier Rush (vs. Eng) Jun 2010: Xavier Rush (vs...
Danie Craven, Os du Randt, Frik du Preez, Naas Botha, Frans Steyn, VictorMatfield, Bryan Habana, Tendai Mtawarira, Eben Etzebeth, Cheslin Kolbe and Siya...