Rugby World Cup: Royal Navy star Sam Matavesi named in Fiji squad

Royal Navy Rugby Union star Sam Matavesi has been selected for Fiji's Rugby Union World Cup squad ahead of next month's tournament in France.

The 31-year-old Northampton Saints player will travel to France as part of the Flying Fijians' 33-member squad for his second Rugby Union World Cup, 10 years after he made his debut for Fiji in 2013. 

Matavesi, who is best positioned as a hooker, played at the 2019 Rugby Union World Cup in Japan and holds 24 test caps for Fiji.

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The Able Seaman was part of the Royal Navy squad that won the Babcock Inter Services trophy at the Army v Navy game at Twickenham this year, in their first win since 2010. 

Prior to his World Cup selection, Matavesi played for Fiji in a friendly fixture against Japan, where the Flying Fijians won 32-12.

The Flying Fijians are in Pool C at the World Cup where they will kick off their campaign against Wales on 10 September, before they face Australia on 17 September, Georgia on 30 September and then Portugal on 8 October.