THE FUSE

"Why not shoot for the stars?" says Josh Matavesi as he ponders what the future could be for Camborne RFC.

The former Fiji international is back in his home town after a career that has taken him to Bath, Racing Metro, Newcastle, Exeter and two Rugby World Cups.

Now the 35-year-old is helping Camborne's ambitions to rise up through the English rugby pyramid, working as the club's player-coach and youth development officer.

It is all part of a drive backed by sponsor and Camborne boy Tony Chapman to get the club to as high a level as possible.

To that end Chapman has appointed former Exeter coach Ricky Pellow to oversee a five-year plan at the Cornish club, using part of the fortune he has made from his international retail consultancy.

"Thirty years we were outside the National Leagues, so to return two or three seasons ago and now to be flying high at the top of National Two West is fantastic," chairman Martin Symons tells BBC Spotlight.

"Tony has got a vision for the club, and it's a vision that the guys here at the club share.

"It's about building a sustainable club from bottom to top and top to bottom and to see where we can get to at the highest level, whilst at the same time bringing through the youngsters at the core of the club."

Matavesi knows all about being a youngster at Camborne.

His father Sireli played for Cornwall and Camborne in the 1980s after moving to the county to work as a miner.

Sireli's three boys, Josh, Sam and Joel, have all become professionals with Sam playing for Cornish Pirates, Northampton, Toulouse and Lyon, as well as for Fiji, before returning to captain Camborne.

"This season so far has been my favourite in my career," says Josh, who has helped Camborne go nine points clear at the top of National Two West, English rugby's fourth tier, with 15 wins from 16 games.

"To be able to share with my brother (Sam) and my kids and his kids has been really special. It's home, so it's good to be home.

"We spoke in Japan in the World Cup, we were room-mates together before we played Australia and we were just talking rubbish in the room and he was just like 'imagine being able to play for Camborne again'.

"We spoke about that in 2019 and 2024-25 it has come to reality, and to walk out of that that tunnel you know he's leading the pack, he leads through actions, he's been immense since he's come.

"He's really brought a standard that I feel was needed, and how good is it that we've had 18 colts from last year come through to the adult system and all they know now is the way in which Sam has led the way.

"Now those those young lads are the first ones here doing the extras, they're running to drills, they're creating standards so that the next 19-20 colts that come through, they know the standard is not just Sam saying it, it's the young kids too."

With a side that includes former Gloucester full-back Kyle Moyle, former Cornish Pirates and Jersey Reds winger Robin Wedlake, Camborne have been flying this season.

They will host Cornish Pirates' forthcoming Champ clash with Ampthill on Saturday after damage from Storm Goretti meant the Mennaye Field was unusable.

But in the future the club hopes they can usurp the Pirates as Cornwall's top side.

"I don't want to put a cap on it," says Matavesi when asked how high the club could go.

"I think as soon as you put a cap on it is where you'll get to. I think, why not shoot for the stars?

"With the momentum we've got going now, not just as a rugby club, but as a community, I just think it's something that we could take it as how far we want to go."