Victor Matfield

Victor Matfield

Victor Matfield was born in Pietersburg on 11 May 1977 and educated at the local high school and the University of Pretoria. He played at lock for the Griquas, the Cats and the Super Rugby champions, the Blue Bulls. He represented South Africa in three Rugby World Cups, 2003 to 2011, including the cup-winning team of 2007. He also captained the Springboks in over a dozen tests having first led the side in 2007. By the time he retired at the end of the 2011 RWC he had played 114 times for the Springboks, including 110 tests since his international debut in 2001. He captained the Barbarians to victory over New Zealand at Twickenham in 2009. He also captained the side against Australia in 2011, which was also his final game of first-class rugby.