Navy News
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World Cup send off for Royal Navy rugby star
20 September 2019
Sailors from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose are cheering on one of their own in the 2019 Rugby World Cup - Sam Matavesi of Fiji.
While there is still some support for England – all eyes from the air station at Helston, Cornwall, will be on Sam, who typically works in the stores warehouse.
To wish him well, men and women and Culdrose filmed a video, led by his supervisor Petty Officer Dean Jones and featuring many of his friends, including members of the air station’s rugby team.
A spokesman for RNAS Culdrose said: “Sam’s job in the navy is as an able rating in the supply chain department. He is basically a safe pair of hands who ensures vital supplies are offloaded quickly and efficiently, up the line to the frontline squadrons – which is not a million miles away from his latest job as a hooker on the Fijian team. From everyone here in Culdrose: good luck Sam!”
Sam, from Camborne, is also well known in Cornwall as a player with the Cornish Pirates rugby team. He has also represented the Royal Navy at Twickenham three times against the army, been on a USA tour for the navy and been selected for the combined services and Fleet Air Arm rugby teams.