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'Fantastic example' Matawalu takes up a Welsh Premiership deal

(Photo by Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)

One of the most curious transfers of the summer was confirmed on Wednesday evening when Welsh Premiership club Pontypridd revealed they had signed Niko Matawalu, the Fijian international who last season lined out for Montauban in the French Pro D2. The seasoned utility back had just last weekend played for Racing 92 – along with ex-England winger Christian Wade – in the SuperSevens tournament at Pau.

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However, rather than remaining on in France in the hope of picking up a medical joker deal somewhere along the line for the 2022/23 season, he was instead unveiled as the new Pontypridd player/skills coach just days before the start of their Welsh Premiership campaign at home to Cardiff.

Wales will now become the fourth European country that Matawalu will base himself. It was 2012 when the Fijian first arrived in Europe, signing for Glasgow where his initial three-year sting culminated in the Warriors defeating Munster in the 2015 PRO12 final in Belfast.

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Matawalu next headed to England, spending a year at Bath before returning to Glasgow for another four campaigns before last season’s French adventure at Montauban. He has now arrived at Pontypridd on a part-time role.

A club statement read: “Pontypridd RFC are delighted to announce the signing of Fijian star Nikola Matawalu as player/skills coach.

“The 33-year-old, who can play scrum-half or wing, has had a glittering career and lists Glasgow Warriors and Bath amongst some of his former clubs as well as winning 41 international caps for Fiji. It was also only last November that Niko played for Fiji against Wales at the Principality Stadium in the 2021 Autumn Nations Series. Welcome to Pontypridd, Niko!”

Pontypridd head coach Justin Burnell said: “This is another fantastic example of Pontypridd RFC and USW [University of South Wales] once again working hand in hand to enable a professional rugby player who has decided to concentrate on his career after rugby.

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“Niko will be studying BSc (Hons) rugby coaching and performance and will become a part-time player/skills coach for Pontypridd RFC and a performance coach for Pontypridd Schools Dewar Shield team.”

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B
BeamMeUp 9 minutes ago
The Springboks have something you don't have

A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!


The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.


Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)


I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.


This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).


This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.


Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!


Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍

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