England

I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGE – NIKO MATAWALU

After moving from Bath earlier this month, Niko Matawalu has said that he is settling quite well at the Exeter Chiefs.


With the end of the autumn internationals, the Fijian back is currently enjoying his first week with the club.

Matawalu reiterated that his reason for moving to the club was to play rugby and so far, he has enjoyed all he has seen in the club. Speaking, Matawalu said,

“It’s so far so good,”

“I really like the environment, the boys and the coaches. I needed to play some rugby and that’s why I decided to move to Exeter.”

“I’m just back from the autumn tour and joined the boys this week and it seems to be going well.”

Matawalu also mentioned how he and the head coach at Exeter, Rob Baxter had talked about their goals for the season just before he made the move to Exeter from Bath.

And with Exeter hoping to gain another top-four finish which would become their second successive, Matawalu is looking forward to the challenge. The Fijian back had said,

“Rob and I talked before I signed and he put over the goals and why they were signing me, so I’m looking forward to the season.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge that is ahead of me.”

“I’m going to take things step-by-step.”

His career ended at Bath after a posterior injury had kept him out for eight months. In a one year spell, Matawalu made only 13 appearances for the team.

Fiji’s nine-try 58-15 defeat to England was Matawalu’s first game after his injury, where he came on as a replacement in the second half of the game played on November 19 at Twickenham.

He is now back to full fitness and says for him, the long term injury is over.