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Cape Town - The curtain came down on legendary Springbok lock Victor Matfield’s rugby career this past weekend.
Matfield played his final game for English club, Northampton Saints, who beat Gloucester 28-20 at the Kingsholm Stadium to finish their season on a high.
Neither team managed to reach the Premiership playoffs, with Saints ending fifth on the log and Gloucester eighth.
It however ensured that Saints will play European Rugby Champions Cup rugby in the 2016/17 season.
Matfield joined Northampton after the conclusion of last
year’s Rugby World Cup.
He retires just short of his 39 birthday (May 11). He made most of his appearances for Northampton off the bench since arriving, as he did on Saturday, coming on for the final 22 minutes to help the Saints maintain control.
“I had a chat with Victor at the end,” director of rugby, Jim Mallinder told The Guardian. “He has been fantastic for us. He did not come here to play 80 minutes 32 times but be a part of the squad. He has played a massive part for us.”
Matfield played a record 127 Tests for the Springboks between 2001 and 2015.
