“We have an exciting crop of hookers in our squad who are all pushing each other to improve every day, and Sam has taken his opportunity in recent months and performed well as a starter.
“He is starting to fulfil his huge potential, and we’re confident that will continue in the coming years.”
Matavesi began his career at hometown Club Camborne, progressing though Cornwall’s grassroots rugby system with stints at Plymouth Albion and Cornish Pirates after graduating from Exeter Chiefs’ academy.
The front rower’s career sky-rocketed however in 2019 as his form earned him a loan spell with Toulouse, a French Top 14 title, and spot on the plane to the 2019 Rugby World Cup with the Flying Fijians, before he arrived at Franklin’s Gardens at the close of the year.
Matavesi has earned 15 international caps for Fiji so far, while also balancing his rugby with a military career in the Royal Navy – the Able Seaman’s stationing at RNAS Culdrose has already seen him feature in three of the annual Babcock Trophy clashes with the Army at Twickenham, as well as earn the Cossack Sword award in 2018 and UK Armed Forces Sportsman of the Year award in 2020.
Matavesi added: “I’m really excited to extend my time at Saints. Every time I pull on the jersey it’s an honour for me, and so signing on for more was an easy decision.
