Sunday 04 May 2008
Matfield credits de Villiers

Springbok lock Victor Matfield has revealed a discussion with national team coach Peter de Villiers brought him to the decision to return to South Africa for almost half the money offered him by the Northampton Saints.

Matfield was writing in his column in the Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag about his reasons for returning home.

And for the first time he revealed that he had also considered offers from French clubs Toulouse and Montpellier before making his decision.

But the chat with De Villiers was the big reason why he chose his home country over the money.

“My decision to sign for the Bulls this week should not be seen as a shock to anyone because those who know me well know my heart has always been at the Bulls, and if I ever had the chance to return, I would take it,” Matfield wrote.

“Toulon is a wonderful place. The people have been very nice to me and my family and I still hope that I can help them win the second division and gain promotion to the French first division.

“But my meeting with Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has convinced me that he believes Springbok players should be in South Africa to try to plough something back into the country’s rugby structures.

“He believes that players should be role models for the youth and my chat with him last month was one of the major reasons why I decided to come back to South Africa.”

While Northampton offered him in the region of 5million Rand, he eventually settled for 3million Rand in South Africa – a figure which still makes him the highest paid player in the country.

“It didn’t ever amount to money,” he added.

“I had a few options and the money at other clubs was always more than the Bulls offered me. My heart is still in South Africa and I wanted to come home.

“I really considered going to Toulouse. They are a good team and would have offered me the opportunity to play Heineken Cup rugby.

“Then there was also Montpellier where a number of the ex-Blue Bulls are.

“Northampton offered me something completely different and it was to try and build something similar to what we built under Heyneke Meyer at the Bulls.”

Matfield also had some words of wisdom for his former lock partner Bakkies Botha, who has taken the Bulls to court to try to nullify his contract so that he can take up a big money offer in Toulon.

“I have heard about Bakkies’ case,” he said.

“I naturally want to play again with him in the same team but I believe that he will make the right choice for him and his family, whatever that may be.”

Matfield added that if he is selected for the Springboks, he would be home in a matter of weeks.

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