A CORNISHMAN who has returned to the UK after playing for Fiji in the rugby World Cup has been left heartbroken.

Sam Matavesi, stationed at RNAS Culdrose and a Cornish Pirates player, has had his kit stolen after his car was broken into in London.

He has posted on his facebook page: "After arriving from Japan I stayed the night in London.

"We stayed at Shoreditch and parked the car overnight in NCP Finsbury square car park, when we returned the following day our car had been burgled and my World Cup kit bags had been stolen.

"The bags contained three Fiji World Cup jerseys plus other signed Fiji shirts, World Cup cap and presentation medal, rugby kit, boots, trainers, gym shoes and other personal belongings and rugby memorabilia.

"Could you please share this and look out for any shirts/kit/boots that come up online, or you hear or see anything around the area."

The 27 year-old, who has previously played for former Camborne, Plymouth Albion and Racing Metro, signed for the Cornish Pirates from Redruth early in December 2017.

He played a full part in Fiji's World Cup campaign, including the big matches against Australia and Wales.

The Matavesi family is well-known in Cornwall.

Sam’s dad Sereli Matavesi was the first Fijian to play for Camborne and Cornwall after his arrival in the 1980s, and his brothers Josh and Joel have also made their mark in the game.

Educated at the Camborne Science & International Academy, Sam then attended Truro College and was a member of the team that in 2009 won the Daily Mail RBS U18 Cup at Twickenham. He won his first cap for Fiji in 2013 and was a County Championship winner with Cornwall in 2016.

He is a supply chain logistician based at RNAS Culdrose.